Netanyahu Orders Probe Against Israeli Soldiers Featured in ‘NAZA.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an investigation and legal action against the soldiers and officers who gave testimony in the documentary NAZA about Israel’s war in Gaza. He directed the military, Shin Bet and the attorney general to identify those featured in the film and pursue action over alleged security breaches and criminal defamation.
NAZA is based on testimony from 24 anonymous Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel. It examines Israel’s use of artificial intelligence and surveillance systems to identify targets in Gaza, alleging that these methods contributed to large-scale civilian deaths.
The film’s title is derived from an Israeli military term used to estimate the expected number of civilian casualties in an airstrike. It won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a nearly 25-minute standing ovation.
Netanyahu said the documentary presented a “false, misleading and biased narrative” that was damaging Israel’s international reputation and that of its military. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir also ordered the identification of the personnel featured in the film and an assessment of whether they were serving soldiers, career officers or reservists.
However, the military’s advocate general said there was no legal basis for criminal action unless it was proven that the interviewees leaked classified material or violated information-security rules. He added that disciplinary or command-level action could be taken if military orders were found to have been breached. The Israeli military also rejected the film’s claims, calling them “significant factual errors.”
Filmmakers Under Pressure
Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar asked the interior ministry to consider revoking the citizenship of the filmmakers after the film won the Venice award. He described NAZA as “despicable” and accused its creators of treason.
The filmmakers, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, defended the documentary, saying its verification process was rigorous and included classified documents, confirmation of specific airstrikes and information from multiple confidential sources.
International Legal Context
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Meanwhile, South Africa’s genocide case against Israel remains before the International Court of Justice.