Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary, “NAZA,” which delves into Israel’s utilization of AI-driven military technologies to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza, received an extraordinary 24.5-minute applause at its debut at the Venice Film Festival. The Israeli filmmakers were visibly moved, with Abraham seen wiping away tears, as the audience enthusiastically responded to the film. This standing ovation surpassed previous records at the festival, including the 24-minute acclaim for “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and the 22-minute applause for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth.”
Videos shared on social media captured the emotional moment, with the filmmakers joined by “The Voice of Hind Rajab” director Kaouther Ben Hania and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha. Audience members even displayed Palestinian and Lebanese flags as the lights came on after the screening.
“NAZA,” shot discreetly in Tel Aviv over three years, features interviews with Israeli military personnel whose identities remain anonymous. The film alleges the use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to target Hamas individuals, disregarding the presence of civilian families, including women and children, in the targeted locations.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have vehemently denied the allegations, stating that decisions to strike are solely made by humans, with efforts to minimize harm to civilians. The film’s title, “NAZA,” is derived from an acronym the Israeli military used to refer to civilian casualties and serves as a companion piece to Abraham and Szor’s previous award-winning documentary, “No Other Land.”
Executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, “NAZA” has sparked controversies similar to Glazer’s past statements against the Israel-Hamas conflict. The film sheds light on the ongoing violence in Gaza, where civilian casualties continue to rise, as confirmed by Abraham in an interview with The Associated Press. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 73,422 Palestinians have been killed, with women and children constituting half of all casualties, since the conflict began.
Abraham emphasized the film’s portrayal of the systemic nature of the conflict, showcasing insider testimonies to expose the reality of the situation. The documentary highlights the persistent violence and challenges the narrative of accidental harm, aiming to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis in the region.