Documentary filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor presented their latest work, NAZA, at its North American premiere in New York City on Saturday. The film, which examines Israel’s systemic military actions in Gaza, was shown as the creators face growing pressure and threats from Israeli authorities regarding their citizenship status.
Produced in collaboration with, the 80-minute documentary utilizes testimony from 24 anonymous Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers. These individuals detail the use of AI-assisted systems for target selection, often resulting in lethal airstrikes on residential homes. The film’s title refers to an acronym used by Israeli intelligence to gauge expected civilian casualties during military operations. Directed by Oscar-winning film-makers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and produced by, features the testimony of 24 anonymized Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers involve, the critically acclaimed film. Which are often conducted at night in private homes, killing many family members, including children, at once, the project takes its name from an acronym used euphemistically by Israeli intelligence to indicate how many civilians it expects to die in an airstrike.
During the post-screening Q&A at the New York Film Festival, Szor emphasized the lack of transparency surrounding these military systems, even for the domestic Israeli audience. She stated, “Our country is doing so much to hide these systems. It’s not a world that is open even to the Israeli public.” Abraham added that the ongoing violence is sustained by international support and funding, noting that the soldiers interviewed are discussing actions facilitated by foreign taxpayer contributions.
The documentary is the result of extensive investigative reporting conducted between 2023 and 2025 by, +972 Magazine, and Local Call. Following a record-breaking reception at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a 25-minute standing ovation and the special jury prize, the project has drawn significant scrutiny from Israeli officials. This climate of tension occurs against the backdrop of a broader military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in over 73,000 Palestinian deaths. Filmed in secret on rooftops in Tel Aviv, builds on reporting published from 2023 to 2025 in; +972 Magazine, an Israeli-Palestinian publication; and Hebrew-language outlet Local Ca, the 80-minute documentary. Amid a tense election season largely focused on Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, which has killed mor, the film has been met with fierce derision from Israeli officials as well as threats to the film-makers.
Outside the Lincoln Center venue, protesters gathered to voice their opposition, with some displaying banners and LED screens characterizing the documentary as propaganda. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly attacked the film, comparing it to a ballistic missile strike against Israel. Netanyahu has previously signaled intentions to pursue legislation that would revoke the citizenship of individuals deemed to be smearing soldiers, specifically targeting Abraham and Szor. Brandishing Israeli flags and signs calling for viewers to “learn the facts” of the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, a couple dozen protesters gathered outside the film’s premiere at the Lincoln Center on Saturday afternoon.
Addressing these accusations, Abraham defended the necessity of the project, characterizing the official response as an attempt to criminalize independent journalism. He also defended the use of anonymous sources as a standard investigative practice required to shed light on state-hidden military operations. “This film could not have been made any other way and because the crimes are ongoing, we felt that it was important to make it,” he explained.
The threats against the filmmakers have extended beyond official rhetoric. Israel’s culture minister, Miki Zohar, has labeled the film-makers as committing treason, while IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir vowed to use all available tools to counter what he termed as “blood libels.” Some right-wing activists have even targeted the families of the creators; recently, protestors gathered at Szor’s parents’ home, with calls for the death penalty for the pair.
Despite the backlash, the documentary has received widespread support from over 1,500 Israeli film professionals, 43 human rights organizations, and various international press freedom advocates. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in 55 countries next month, followed by a free digital release on website this November.
For the filmmakers, the New York premiere carried unique weight given the $3.8 billion in annual military assistance provided by the United States to Israel. Abraham noted the direct connection between these funds and the operations described by the soldiers in the film, underscoring the global implications of their investigation.
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