Co-directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the documentary film "NAZA" recently earned the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival. Focusing on the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) military operations and the resulting civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip, the film has sparked severe controversy and widespread political outrage within Israel. 

Despite facing heavy political criticism, threats of citizenship revocation, and potential legal actions from the Israeli military, the directors have maintained their resolute stance. In their first interview with Israeli media following the award, co-director Yuval Abraham appeared on Israel's Channel 13 on September 14 (local time) and stated, "We will do everything possible to ensure that the film is widely screened in Israel." Abraham emphasized his deep connection to the country, saying, "Israel is my home. It is where I want to live, and it matters deeply to me. I am afraid of the possibility that I might not be able to return." 

The documentary builds upon investigative reporting conducted between 2023 and 2025, featuring testimonies from 24 Israeli intelligence officers and military insiders. It highlights the systematic nature of collateral damage and military policies in Gaza. During the Channel 13 broadcast, when anchor Raviv Drucker questioned why the film did not place more focus on the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and the plight of Israeli hostages, Abraham pushed back. He questioned why the mainstream Israeli media itself had failed to conduct deep investigative reports on the rules of engagement or the widespread suffering of innocent Palestinians over the past three years. "If you thought our film wasn't complex enough, why didn't you do complex reporting yourselves?" Abraham asked. 

In a separate interview with the Spanish daily El País, Abraham expressed profound frustration with the indifference of daily life in Tel Aviv while systematic killings continue just 60 kilometers away. He lamented seeing many individuals within his society lose basic moral and human principles. Meanwhile, co-director Rachel Szor pointed out the limitations of international pressure, noting that as long as powerful global allies like the United States and Germany continue supplying weapons and endorsing Israel's military actions, fundamental changes will remain difficult to achieve.

The backlash within Israel has been swift and severe. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and prominent opposition figures, including Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid or other political leaders, severely criticized the film, arguing that casting moral judgment on soldiers harms the nation. The Israeli military also initiated reviews for potential legal measures regarding defamation and the alleged leakage of classified materials featured in the project.

Conversely, a strong wave of support has emerged from the domestic artistic community. Approximately 700 Israeli film industry professionals issued a joint statement condemning the unprecedented political slurs and online incitement directed at Abraham and Szor. Expressing fear for the directors' physical safety, the signatories voiced hope that "NAZA" would soon be officially distributed in Israel so that everyone could watch it and form their own independent opinions on a crucial debate that has long been suppressed in local media and society.

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