Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham’s documentary “NAZA” unveiled at the Venice Film Festival, shedding light on Israel’s alleged use of AI-driven military technology to target and eliminate Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The film received an exceptional 24.5-minute standing ovation, breaking records at the festival.
Video clips circulating on social media captured the emotional reaction of the Israeli filmmakers during the extended applause, with Yuval Abraham visibly moved to tears. The documentary is based on the accounts of 24 Israeli military insiders, their identities kept anonymous.
According to reports, the prolonged ovation surpassed previous records, including the acclaimed film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” from the previous year 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 present at the event, along with audience members displaying Palestinian and Lebanese flags as a gesture of solidarity.
“NAZA” was filmed clandestinely in Tel Aviv over three years, featuring interviews with Israeli military personnel discussing the alleged use of surveillance systems and AI intelligence to target Hamas members, even in residential areas with innocent civilians present.
In response, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) rejected the claims, emphasizing that decisions to strike targets are solely made by humans, not AI. They criticized the use of anonymous testimonies, highlighting their inability to verify such accounts.
The film, named after a military acronym for civilian casualties, serves as a companion piece to Abraham and Szor’s previous award-winning documentary “No Other Land.” Executive produced by Jonathan Glazer, the film has stirred controversy due to its portrayal of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The ongoing violence in Gaza, as depicted in “NAZA,” underscores the filmmakers’ message of the systemic nature of the conflict. Abraham emphasized that the documentary reveals the persistent reality of civilian casualties and the need for greater awareness of the situation.
The film’s impact was further highlighted by the intense emotional response from the audience, marking a significant moment in cinematic history.