The documentary 'Naza' by Yuval Abram and Rachel Zor faced historic acclaim at the Venice Festival for its candid look at Israel's airstrikes in Gaza. The film, which explores how targets are selected for airstrikes, received around 24 and a half minutes of standing ovation during its premiere, reportedly the longest applause in the history of this festival.
A Controversial and Brave Documentary
This documentary is somewhat a continuation of a trend of prominent films focused on Gaza and Palestine showcased in Venice. Abram and Zor, who are directors of the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Land's Man', interviewed 24 officers and soldiers from Israeli military intelligence during the 80-minute film, examining the systems used to identify targets in Gaza.
The interviews were conducted under conditions where the identities of the participants were completely concealed, and filming took place at night from rooftops in Tel Aviv. Abram states, 'We wanted to let the soldiers and officers talk about what they have done.' The aim of this documentary is to examine the killing systems in Gaza and how they operate in detail.
Technology and War
The title 'Naza', which refers to a term in Israeli military intelligence, means collateral damage and the number of civilians who will be killed in airstrikes. This documentary references a program called 'Leavander' that helps identify targets using information gathered from Gaza's telecommunications networks. Interviewees in the film describe how this technology allows for mass identification and targeting of objectives.
The film also addresses the destruction of civilian homes and attitudes among parts of the Israeli military and intelligence services towards Palestinian civilians. Abram states, 'As Israelis, we were able to leverage our position and connect with individuals in our society who have served in the military.'
