Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary, “NAZA,” which sheds light on Israel’s purported use of AI-assisted military technology to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza, garnered a remarkable 24.5-minute standing ovation during its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The film, based on testimonies from 24 Israeli military personnel, received accolades as social media videos captured the emotional reactions of the filmmakers, with Abraham visibly moved to tears.
According to reports, the extended applause surpassed previous records, including the 24-minute acclaim for “The Voice of Hind Rajab” at the previous year’s festival and the 22-minute ovation for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” at Cannes in 2006. Director Kaouther Ben Hania and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha of “The Voice of Hind Rajab” also attended the premiere, witnessing the enthusiastic response.
During the screening, some attendees unfurled Palestinian and Lebanese flags as a symbolic gesture. Shot secretly over three years in Tel Aviv, “NAZA” features interviews with Israeli military personnel whose identities are concealed. The film alleges the use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to target Hamas operatives, often resulting in civilian casualties, including women and children.
In response, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement refuting the claims, emphasizing that decisions to strike are made by humans and asserting their efforts to minimize harm to civilians. The film, named after an Israeli military acronym for civilian casualties, serves as a follow-up to Abraham and Szor’s award-winning documentary “No Other Land.”
Executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, “NAZA” has attracted attention for its controversial subject matter. Glazer, known for his previous work, faced criticism following a speech denouncing the Israel-Hamas conflict. The documentary sheds light on the ongoing violence in Gaza, highlighting the systemic nature of the situation through insider accounts.
With ongoing conflict and casualties in Gaza, Abraham emphasized the film’s relevance, stating that the depicted events are not isolated incidents but rather part of a larger systemic issue. The documentary aims to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis and prompt discussions on the situation’s complexities.