Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham premiered their documentary film, “NAZA,” at the Venice Film Festival, shedding light on Israel’s alleged utilization of AI-powered military technology to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The film garnered a remarkable 24.5-minute standing ovation, setting a new record at the festival. Video clips shared on social media captured the emotional reaction of the filmmakers as the audience erupted with applause, with Yuval Abraham visibly moved to tears.
According to reports, this standing ovation surpassed previous records, including the acclaim for “The Voice of Hind Rajab” at the prior year’s festival and 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” were also present to witness the ovation.
During the screening, some attendees displayed Palestinian and Lebanese flags, underscoring the film’s powerful impact. “NAZA” was clandestinely filmed in Tel Aviv over three years, featuring interviews with Israeli military personnel whose identities were concealed. The documentary alleges the use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to target Hamas operatives, disregarding the presence of innocent civilians, including women and children, in the vicinity.
In response, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement refuting the claims made in the film, emphasizing that decisions to strike are solely human-driven. The IDF asserted its commitment to minimizing harm to civilians during military operations. The film, named after a military acronym for civilian casualties, serves as a companion piece to the filmmakers’ previous award-winning documentary, “No Other Land.”
“NAZA” also received support from executive producer Jonathan Glazer, who previously faced criticism for his stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The film sheds light on the ongoing violence in Gaza, highlighting the systemic nature of the issue. Abraham emphasized the film’s role in exposing the continuous violence against civilians in Gaza, portraying it as a deliberate and entrenched problem that demands attention and action.