The short version
- Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the attorney general and Shin Bet to uncover the identities of soldiers featured in the documentary NAZA.
- The government seeks criminal charges related to security breaches and defamation, while military officials note prosecution requires evidence of classified disclosure.
- International journalists and film festivals have condemned the move as intimidation, defending the filmmakers' right to investigate public interest issues.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a directive demanding the identification and potential criminal prosecution of soldiers and officers who provided interviews for the investigative documentary NAZA. The order, conveyed in a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Shin Bet head David Zini, calls for urgent action to uncover the identities of all individuals involved in or appearing in the film. Netanyahu characterized the documentary as causing harm to Israel’s diplomatic and security interests, urging authorities to open investigations for serious information security offenses and criminal defamation.
NAZA, produced by The Guardian and directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, examines Israel’s military operations in Gaza, specifically focusing on the mass killing of civilians. The film derives its title from an acronym reportedly used by Israeli intelligence to estimate civilian casualties expected from airstrikes. It premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last month, where it received the Special Jury Prize and what organizers described as the longest ovation in the festival’s history. The documentary is currently screening in cinemas across the United Kingdom, the United States, and more than fifty other countries.
The Israeli government has responded to the film with intense hostility. Officials have threatened to strip the directors of their citizenship and accused them of treason. Supporters of the government have engaged in aggressive tactics, including picketing the home of director Rachel Szor’s parents in Savyon while chanting calls for severe punishment against those they label as traitors. Lt. Gen. Zamir previously denounced the work as an attack on the state, alleging it spreads falsehoods and blood libels, and had already instructed military legal officials to identify featured soldiers and assess potential legal actions.
Despite the political pressure, military legal authorities have indicated that criminal prosecution is not automatic. Itai Ofir, the military advocate general, stated that pursuing criminal charges would require concrete evidence of security violations or the disclosure of classified material. While disciplinary measures remain a possibility for those interviewed, the threshold for criminal liability appears higher than the government’s current rhetoric suggests. This distinction highlights a tension between political demands for accountability and legal standards regarding national security breaches.
The production of NAZA relied on extensive verification processes. According to The Guardian, the team spent three years interviewing more than one hundred sources familiar with Israeli Defense Forces systems used during the war in Gaza. These sources included senior-ranking commanders directly involved in authorizing strikes. The credibility of testimonies was assessed through leaked classified documents, detailed verification of specific strikes, and corroboration from a wider pool of confidential journalistic sources who did not appear on camera.
Press freedom advocates have strongly criticized the government’s actions. Ricardo Gutiérrez, general secretary of the European Federation of Journalists, described the threats as blatant intimidation against journalists performing their duties in accordance with ethical standards and public interest. He argued that such moves confirm a regime willing to cover up alleged crimes against humanity and ongoing genocide in Gaza. The protection of journalistic sources is considered a cornerstone of press freedom under international human rights standards, with disclosure orders permitted only under stringent conditions.
In response to the controversy, the Israeli government has promoted an alternative online film project titled NAZA: The Real Story. Created by attorney and army reservist Ariel Averbuch, this counter-narrative mimics the style of the original documentary but aims to challenge its findings. Critics describe this effort as an offensive move designed to shift global focus away from allegations regarding the Israeli military’s conduct in Gaza. Meanwhile, film industry leaders, including heads of the Locarno Film Festival, have expressed solidarity with Abraham and Szor, affirming support for filmmakers’ rights to pursue difficult subjects without fear of reprisal.
The situation underscores broader concerns about accountability and transparency in conflict zones. As NAZA continues its international release, the legal and political fallout within Israel remains unresolved. The government’s insistence on prosecuting sources raises questions about the balance between national security claims and the public’s right to information. International observers continue to monitor how these developments affect press freedom protections and the ability of journalists to investigate state actions without facing severe retaliation.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗NAZA: Netanyahu orders identification and prosecution of film’s interviewees
