Netanyahu calls for investigation into whistleblowers behind ‘NAZA’ documentary

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an investigation into the people who provided anonymous testimony for the documentary ‘NAZA’, which alleges that Israel’s military used artificial intelligence-powered targeting systems in operations that killed civilians in Gaza. He has also demanded that those involved face prosecution over alleged security breaches and damage to Israel’s international standing. 

The film features accounts from 24 unnamed Israeli military whistleblowers who accuse the army of relying on AI-assisted systems to facilitate strikes that resulted in numerous civilian deaths in the besieged Palestinian territory.

In a post on X on Saturday evening, Netanyahu urged senior security and legal officials to investigate the documentary’s participants, accusing them of serious wrongdoing.

“I demand that the chief of general staff, the head of the Shin Bet, and the attorney general launch a comprehensive investigation into the participants in the film ‘Naza’ and prosecute them for serious information security violations, criminal libel, and harm to Israel’s diplomatic and security interests,” Netanyahu said on X on Saturday evening.

“The film presents a false, misleading, and biased narrative that defames the State of Israel and the [Israeli military] internationally, severely damaging Israel’s standing,” he added.

Israeli military rejects allegations

The Israeli military has denied the claims made by the whistleblowers, dismissing their allegations as unfounded. In a statement issued last month, it said it “categorically” rejected the accusations, describing some of the assertions as “absurd’ and contradictory.

The army maintained that decisions on selecting and authorising targets remain under human control, in accordance with its operational guidelines.

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had previously called for legal action against the documentary’s participants to be considered. He also ordered an investigation into suspected leaks of classified military information that were allegedly used in the film’s production, according to a report published by Al Jazeera on September 14.

The controversy centres on the documentary’s allegations about the military’s use of AI-powered targeting technology and the extent to which such systems may have contributed to civilian casualties in Gaza.

‘NAZA’ sparks political backlash in Israel

The documentary takes its name from ‘NAZA’, an Israeli military term referring to the number of civilian casualties anticipated from an air strike. The term is an abbreviation of a Hebrew phrase meaning “collateral damage”.

The film received a special jury prize at the Venice International Film Festival, where it reportedly drew a 25-minute standing ovation. Its claims have since fuelled a political dispute in Israel, with its directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, facing accusations of treason.

Netanyahu and Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar have also threatened to revoke the filmmakers’ Israeli citizenship.

The government’s response has included support for a separate production challenging the original documentary’s findings. Last week, Tzipi Hotovely, head of Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate, presented certificates of recognition to the creators of ‘NAZA: The Real Story’.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the film features soldiers disputing the allegations made in the original documentary.

However, the filmmakers have also received support from civil society groups. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that 43 Israeli rights organisations defended the creators of ‘NAZA’ and condemned the threats directed at them.

Gaza war and civilian casualties

The controversy surrounding the documentary comes amid the continuing repercussions of Israel’s war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, following attacks on southern Israel by Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, and other Palestinian groups.

The attacks killed 1,139 people and resulted in about 240 others being taken captive, according to the figures cited in reports on the conflict.

Since the war began, at least 74,000 Palestinians, including at least 21,000 children, have been killed, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.