Documentary 'NAZA' Examines Israeli Military Practices in Gaza
The documentary 'NAZA' features interviews with former Israeli intelligence personnel about civilian casualties in Gaza, prompting debate over its ethical implications and the responsibilities of filmmakers.
Co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor's documentary NAZA presents interviews with 24 current and former members of the Israeli military intelligence corps about the killing of Palestinian civilians during the Gaza conflict. The film defines a "NAZA" as a civilian casualty counted by the Israeli military when an operation targeting a Hamas operative results in collateral death. The interviewees discuss the scale of these incidents, noting that the number of civilian deaths per strike has increased since the October 7 attacks.
Abraham and Szor state that the film was made out of a sense of obligation to examine the policies and systems that enable mass civilian casualties. The directors emphasize that the documentary focuses on the orders, language, and institutional logic rather than isolated incidents by rogue soldiers. To protect the identities of the interviewees, the filmmakers digitally altered voices and images.
The screening in Brooklyn reportedly left many audience members in silence, with some viewers crying during the closing moments that included a Palestinian voice. Critics have questioned whether Israeli filmmakers should be the primary narrators of the Gaza story, while supporters argue that the film provides valuable insight into the mechanisms of the conflict.
The documentary has been described as visually striking, with cinematography that juxtaposes the interview settings in Tel Aviv-Jaffa with the broader context of surveillance and urban development in the region. It raises ethical questions about journalistic responsibility versus the pursuit of accountability for alleged war crimes.
"We made this film out of a sense of obligation to use our position as Israeli filmmakers and journalists to examine the systems behind the mass killing of Palestinian civilians for which our country is responsible," the directors wrote in press notes.
The film does not feature Palestinian perspectives extensively, though a brief Palestinian testimony appears near the end. Observers note that the documentary may serve as a record of admissions by individuals involved in the conflict, potentially informing future legal or policy discussions.