Politics
Israeli backlash mounts as NAZA documentary on Gaza targeting heads to US theaters
September 19, 2026 at 05:26 AM · Updated 27d ago
Coverage
4 reports · 3 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 16 hours
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
من "نازا" إلى جولة شيران.. "الحرية لفلسطين" تلاحق الرواية الإسرائيلية
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
From ovations in Venice to death threats in Israel: the extreme responses to NAZA documentary
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
"نازا" في سان سيباستيان.. مهرجان السينما يجدد موقفه من حرب غزة
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
رغم الغضب الإسرائيلي.. فيلم "نازا" يصل إلى دور العرض الأمريكية
(opens the publisher’s site)The Guardian-produced documentary NAZA, which premiered in Venice to a 25-minute ovation, is drawing threats from Israeli right-wing figures as it prepares for its US release.
- NAZA, featuring 24 anonymized Israeli military insiders describing AI-assisted targeting of civilians in Gaza, premiered at Venice on September 10 and won the festival's Special Jury Prize.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would promote legislation to strip citizenship from anyone who "defames" Israeli soldiers.
- Right-wing figures and protesters have threatened directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, with demonstrators outside Szor's parents' home calling for the "death penalty for traitors."
- The film screens at the New York Film Festival on September 26 and opens commercially at New York's IFC Center on September 30.
- San Sebastian festival director José Luis Rebordinos said festivals with global platforms must speak about human rights, as NAZA screens at his festival this week.
- The documentary has also drawn support from Israeli filmmakers and international institutions, offsetting the backlash from right-wing figures.