Cloaked in anonymity, Israeli soldiers describe mass civilian killings in 'NAZA'

Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s documentary NAZA features interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence staff. Their faces and voices were altered to conceal their identities.

The interviewees discuss their involvement in airstrikes in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The filmmakers focus on how surveillance and targeting systems operated, as well as the toll on Palestinian civilians.

The title refers to a Hebrew term for collateral damage. The film says the Israeli military used estimates of acceptable civilian casualties when approving attacks; one target was reportedly assigned an allowance of up to 500 deaths.

The documentary describes extensive phone surveillance, attacks on suspected Hamas members’ homes while families were present, and the use of AI tools that could provide faulty intelligence.

The film has drawn international praise and strong criticism in Israel. Abraham and Szor have been called traitors, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to revoke their citizenship. Debate has also centered on whether anonymity protects sources or undermines accountability.

Much of the reporting has appeared in outlets including +972 Magazine, Local Call and The Guardian. The article notes that without anonymity, the interviews might not have happened, while the underlying investigations were already public.