Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar on Sunday evening condemned a film that won an award at the Venice Film Festival, accusing its creators of damaging Israel’s reputation and announcing that he would work to revoke their citizenship over what he called “treason against the state."
“The disgraceful Naza film winning at the Venice Film Festival is shocking," Zohar said. “The burning self-hatred of the creators, who are willing to harm their homeland in order to receive applause from antisemites around the world, is a betrayal of the state. I will act to revoke the citizenship of these contemptible creators."
Ganz called them a "bunch of liars"
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also condemned the filmmakers. "Rahel Shor and Yuval Avraham, the creators of the anti-Semitic film Naza, are the direct damage to the Jewish people," Ben-Gvir said. “Regarding those who slander our heroic soldiers, who risk their lives so that we can live in calm and safety, I say: You are a disgrace and shame to the entire people of Israel. Get out. I am sure your friends, our enemies in Hamas in Gaza, will welcome you with open arms."
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman also condemned the filmmakers, calling them “enemies of Israel" and describing the film as “a slanderous account against Israel."
Naza, named for the IDF term for collateral damage, is a documentary by Yuval Avraham and Rahel Shor. The two also worked on No Other Land, received an award from the jury chairman during the closing ceremony of the 83rd Venice Film Festival.
The film features allegations concerning IDF conduct during the war in Gaza, including testimonies from unnamed soldiers and former members of Unit 8200. According to the filmmakers, some of those interviewed describe their experiences as involvement in “war crimes and genocide."
Following the film’s award, Avraham addressed the audience from the stage and criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
“Since this festival began, Israel has killed at least six Palestinian children in Gaza," he said. Avraham added that Israeli intelligence officers interviewed for the film described the deaths as systematic and “not by accident."
The IDF Spokesman put out a statement against the film: "The IDF categorically rejects these allegations. According to the publications, the film relies on anonymous testimonies from individuals whose identity cannot be verified, including whether they served in the IDF, in what capacity, or whether they were involved in the matters about which the allegations are being made."
"The excerpts cited include claims regarding national and military strategy that are clearly beyond the knowledge of junior-level soldiers. There are references to situations in which IDF Intelligence Directorate soldiers, who were allegedly interviewed for the film, by definition would not have been involved. There is also an incorrect use of legal terminology by individuals who are not legal professionals, as well as internal and absurd contradictions, such as the claim that unintended harm resulting from lawful attacks was carried out deliberately or constituted part of “genocide," without understanding the meaning of these terms."
"The IDF operates in the Gaza Strip in order to protect Israeli civilians and directs its military activity against terrorist organizations, foremost among them Hamas, in accordance with international law and the laws of armed conflict. As part of this, the IDF strikes military targets and makes unprecedented efforts to minimize harm to civilians. Hamas continues to systematically operate from within the civilian environment, embedding its operatives and military infrastructure among the population and exploiting civilian areas for terrorist purposes. When specific suspicions of violations of the law by an IDF soldier arise, the IDF is fully committed to investigating them and bringing those responsible to justice through independent enforcement mechanisms. A soldier who witnesses a violation of the law is required under military orders to report it so that the need to open an investigation can be examined. This also applies to individuals who were interviewed for the film."
"Regarding the allegations concerning the use of artificial intelligence - decisions regarding the selection and approval of strikes in the IDF are made by human personnel only, in accordance with IDF guidelines, and not by artificial intelligence."
Read IDF Response
IDF responds to Israeli film: "Internal and absurd contradictions" | Israel National News
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