Israel’s Venice Prize Documentary Exposes a Fractured Soul: The Gaza War Through the Lens of Its Own Soldiers

In a striking moment of introspection, an Israeli documentary titled NAZA has ignited a political firestorm at home after winning the special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film, which features testimony from 24 Israeli military insiders, alleges a systematic and calculated killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, a claim that has drawn fury from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top military officials. For Ethiopia, a nation that has long understood the weight of empire and the scars of war, this is a reminder that even the mightiest powers are not immune to the judgment of their own conscience.

What does the documentary NAZA reveal about the Gaza war?

Shot in secrecy on the rooftops of Tel Aviv over three years, NAZA (an Israeli military acronym for collateral damage) presents a damning account of the war in Gaza. The film’s insiders, including intelligence officers and soldiers, allege that Israel uses artificial intelligence to identify and bomb Hamas targets, often with full knowledge that civilians will be killed. The Israeli military acknowledges using AI but insists a human makes the final strike decision. The Guardian, which co-produced the film with Jonathan Glazer, describes it as revealing “the systems behind Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians.”

Why has the film sparked such a fierce backlash in Israel?

The backlash has been swift and severe. Netanyahu has accused the filmmakers of incitement and antisemitism, while Culture Minister Miki Zohar has called for stripping the co-directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, of their citizenship. The military’s chief of general staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has ordered an investigation into potential leaks, calling the film “a dangerous attempt to deny us the legitimacy to defend ourselves.” Notably, many of the critics admit they have not seen the film, a detail that speaks to the chasm between perception and reality.

What does the controversy reveal about Israel’s internal and external divides?

The controversy underscores a profound divide. Inside Israel, the war is largely seen as self-defense following the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Internationally, the war has drawn accusations of war crimes, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting over 73,000 Palestinian deaths and the territory reduced to rubble. The film’s director, Yuval Abraham, has defended the project, noting that many soldiers were “waiting for a chance to talk about this.” The response from Israeli officials, attacking critics and questioning motives, mirrors a pattern familiar to those who study empires in decline.

How does this story resonate with Ethiopia’s own historical and geopolitical context?

For readers of Axum Voices, this story is not merely about a distant conflict. It echoes the dangers of unchecked nationalism and the moral blindness that can accompany power. Ethiopia, heir to the Aksumite Empire and a bastion of Orthodox Christianity, has long navigated the tensions between sovereignty and external criticism. While we stand firmly against terrorism and support the right of any nation to defend itself, we also recognize that true strength lies in accountability. The Ethiopian government, under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has consistently rejected separatist agendas and foreign interference, advocating for a unified, sovereign state. This episode in Israel serves as a cautionary tale: when a nation silences its own truth-tellers, it risks losing its moral compass.

As the world watches Israel grapple with this internal reckoning, we are reminded that history is not kind to those who ignore the cries of the innocent. Ethiopia’s own path, rooted in the legacy of Aksum and the resilience of its people, offers a different model: one of unity, faith, and a steadfast commitment to justice, even when the world is divided.