Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary, “NAZA,” which explores Israel’s reported use of AI-driven military technologies to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza, garnered a remarkable 24.5-minute standing ovation during its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The filmmakers were captured on video looking somber, with Abraham seemingly wiping away tears, as the audience erupted in applause for the film. Based on the testimonies of 24 Israeli military insiders, “NAZA” set a new record for the longest standing ovation in Venice, surpassing previous records set by films like “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and “Pan’s Labyrinth.”
Among those present during the screening were director Kaouther Ben Hania and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha of “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” who also received strong applause. Audience members unfurled Palestinian and Lebanese flags in the room as the film concluded, as seen in a video shared on social media.
Filmed covertly over three years in Tel Aviv, “NAZA” features interviews with Israeli military personnel whose identities are concealed. The film alleges the use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to identify Hamas targets for airstrikes, regardless of the presence of civilian families, including women and children. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have denied the allegations, stating that decisions to strike are made by humans and emphasizing their efforts to minimize harm to civilians.
Named after an acronym used by the Israeli military for civilian casualties, “NAZA” serves as a companion piece to Abraham and Szor’s previous award-winning documentary, “No Other Land.” The film has drawn attention for its controversial subject matter, shedding light on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and raising questions about the ethics of military operations in the region.
Executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, “NAZA” has sparked further controversy due to Glazer’s previous statements regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite the IDF’s rebuttal of the film’s claims, the filmmakers stand by their work, emphasizing the systemic nature of the issues highlighted in “NAZA” and the importance of sharing insider perspectives on the situation in Gaza.