On October 11, 2026, the NAZA documentary received the Jury Special Award at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. The film documents the killing of civilians in Gaza. This recognition brought the work into international focus and set off a chain of reactions within Israel.
Earlier, on September 13, 2026, Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar threatened to strip citizenship from the film’s directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
Netanyahu signed a formal letter ordering the IDF chief, Shin Bet head, and Attorney General to open a criminal investigation against everyone involved in the NAZA film. He demands an urgent investigation into the soldiers (serving and discharged from Unit 8200) who were interviewed in the film.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly characterized the NAZA documentary as antisemitic incitement. He made this statement following the film’s release and its award.
He said these breaches posed a risk to Israel’s security and diplomatic standing.
Also on October 11, 2026, Netanyahu requested a criminal investigation into the soldiers who appear in the NAZA documentary. He asked the Israeli army, the internal intelligence agency Shin‑Bet (Shabak), and the Israeli Attorney General to examine the soldiers and identify their identities.
🇮🇱🇵🇸 Netanyahu is demanding a CRIMINAL investigation into the people behind NAZA... The documentary exposes Israeli military practices in Gaza. The film features testimony from 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel about AI-assisted targeting and civilian casualties. Netanyahu wants those involved investigated for alleged security offenses and defamation, while the Israeli military disputes the film's claims. The documentary won an award at the Venice Film Festival, and is being made available FREE. Source: i24 news / Writer: Samuel
Netanyahu justified his request by citing serious information security breaches and alleged damage to Israel’s diplomatic and security interests. He said these breaches posed a risk to Israel’s security and diplomatic standing.
On the same day, General Staff Chief Eyal Zamir instructed the military intelligence, the military prosecutor’s office, and the air force to determine whether the soldiers shown in the film were serving or reserve personnel and to identify them. This instruction was issued as part of the official response to the documentary.
🇮🇱 Netanyahu has formally ordered the IDF chief, Shin Bet head, and Attorney General to open a criminal investigation into everyone involved in the NAZA documentary. He specifically called for urgent probes of the Unit 8200 soldiers, both current and former, who appeared in the film.
The NAZA documentary caused a strong reaction in Israel. While the nature of that reaction is not detailed, the combination of the award, the threats to the directors, and the official investigations indicates a significant public and governmental response.
The request from Netanyahu and the instruction from Zamir set multiple state bodies in motion: the Israeli army, Shin‑Bet, the Attorney General’s office, military intelligence, the military prosecutor’s office, and the air force. Each was tasked with some aspect of examining the soldiers’ involvement and their status.
The threat from Miki Zohar to revoke the citizenship of Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor remains a distinct administrative action. No details of any follow‑up legal proceedings were provided.
The confluence of the NAZA documentary’s award at the Venice Film Festival, the allegations of misconduct it contains, and the swift official response underscores ongoing tensions in Israel over military conduct, freedom of expression, and the handling of information related to the Gaza conflict.