Netanyahu Seeks Probe Into NAZA Film Sources Over Gaza Claims

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded an investigation into anonymous sources behind NAZA, an award-winning documentary alleging Israeli military systems were used in Gaza operations, while filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor face political backlash over the film. The documentary features testimony from 24 unnamed Israeli military whistleblowers who accuse the army of using AI-powered targeting systems that resulted in civilian deaths in Gaza, according to Al Jazeera. NAZA received a special jury prize at the Venice International Film Festival and earned a 25-minute standing ovation, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Screen Daily. The film later expanded to 30 cities in its second weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Netanyahu called for action by Israel's chief of general staff, Shin Bet head and attorney general over the film's sources.

"I demand that the chief of general staff, the head of the Shin Bet, and the attorney general launch a comprehensive investigation into the participants in the film ‘Naza’ and prosecute them for serious information security violations, criminal libel, and harm to Israel’s diplomatic and security interests," said Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister. Netanyahu also criticized the documentary's portrayal of Israel and its military.

"The film presents a false, misleading, and biased narrative that defames the State of Israel and the [Israeli military] internationally, severely damaging Israel’s standing," said Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister. The Israeli military rejected the allegations in the documentary, saying strike decisions are made by human personnel according to military guidelines. The army described some claims as "categorically" rejected and called some assertions "absurd" and contradictory.

Producer James Wilson defended the filmmakers during a BFI London Film Festival industry forum, saying opposition to the documentary largely came from people who had not watched it. "The first thing I’d say is that the majority reaction to the film has been, from my point of view, extremely positive," said James Wilson, UK producer. Wilson said the backlash was mainly from people unfamiliar with the film.

"largely from people who haven’t seen the film," said James Wilson, UK producer.

Wilson said the directors had spoken with many Israeli officers and soldiers while researching the documentary and faced threats from political figures after its release. "In terms of the hysterical, vituperative, aggressive backlash from members of the Israeli government, Israeli politicians, threats to the directors, legal threats, threats to revoke their citizenship, two young filmmakers who are Israeli Jewish filmmakers made a film in which, in researching the film along with the Guardian journalistic team, spoke to many, many Israeli officers and soldiers, about 100 sources," said James Wilson, UK producer. Wilson connected the dispute to broader debates about art and politics.

"The personal is political," said James Wilson, UK producer.

"I get so bored by debates about politics and ‘is art part of it?’. I can’t believe that 50 years after feminism taught us that the personal is political, we can even bother to have debates about that," said James Wilson, UK producer. Wilson also discussed inequality in the film industry and his ability to sustain a long independent producing career.

"Class is the elephant on the kitchen table," said James Wilson, UK producer. "[it’s] privilege and advantage that I have, being from a classic British film business, middle-class, upper-middle-class background," said James Wilson, UK producer.

He added that economic security had helped him maintain a producing career over long periods. "Class is the elephant on the kitchen table for a lot of people," said James Wilson, UK producer. Wilson described operating his company with limited overhead while producing independent films.

"I’m a one-man band. It’s that bag and my iPhone. There’s no office… Sometimes I look very enviously at other producers who have assistants and offices and development people.

I just don’t understand how they do it. I don’t. My brain doesn’t work that way," said James Wilson, UK producer.

"I don’t understand how you take your producer fee that you get from an independent film and squirrel enough of it away to pay for all that stuff, and be able to pay your gas bill," said James Wilson, UK producer.