Netanyahu demands prosecution of participants in 'NAZA' documentary; legislation to strip citizenship reignites media suppression concerns

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally demanded that the military, intelligence and judicial branches launch a full investigation and bring criminal charges against Israeli soldiers who took part in the documentary 'NAZA'. According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation News, Netanyahu wrote to the Israel Defense Forces, the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, and the attorney general, who holds prosecutorial authority, citing reasons including the leaking of sensitive information, criminal defamation, and damage to Israel's diplomatic and security interests.

In his letter, Netanyahu wrote: "The film weaves a false, misleading and biased narrative that defames the State of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces on a global scale and seriously damages Israel's reputation." This statement elevates state control of narrative to the level of criminal prosecution.

The film's title 'NAZA' is taken from the Hebrew abbreviation for 'collateral damage' (נזק אגבי) as used by the Israeli military. The documentary premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last month to widespread critical acclaim. It features anonymous interviews with 24 soldiers and intelligence officials, whose testimony alleges that the Israel Defense Forces carried out systematic mass killings of civilians in Gaza, and involves intelligence operations using AI-assisted target assessment. These constitute the most concentrated and operationally detailed public testimony to date from inside the Israeli military regarding military operations in Gaza.

The documentary's two directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won an Oscar in 2024 for 'No Other Land', which exposed settler violence in the West Bank and the support it received from the Israel Defense Forces. The two directors now face treason charges as well as personal threats against themselves and their families, and have so far been unable to return to Israel.

In the face of the fierce debate sparked by the film at home and abroad, the Israel Defense Forces have refused to accept its allegations, while the Israeli government has released a counter-documentary in an attempt to erode 'NAZA's' public credibility at the public relations level. Reports indicate that Netanyahu and senior cabinet members have previously pledged to push legislation authorizing the government to strip citizenship from those who 'defame Israeli soldiers' — meaning that the dispute over the war narrative could be further escalated into a revocation of nationality carried out by state machinery.

Multiple international organizations have publicly condemned the Netanyahu government's attacks on 'NAZA' and its team. According to reports, organizations including Reporters Without Borders have explicitly characterized this as the latest round of media suppression ahead of Israel's October 27 election. One of Netanyahu's main rivals in the polls, Gadi Eisenkot, has aligned with the government in criticizing the film. It is noteworthy that 'NAZA' is scheduled for theatrical release in select Australian cities this weekend, meaning this internal debate over responsibility for the war in Gaza is spilling over Israel's borders and entering a broader international public space.