Israeli filmmakers launch counter-documentary to rebut ‘NAZA’

Three Israeli creators released a documentary titled NAZA: The Real Story to directly counter the Venice Film Festival-winning film NAZA, which alleges systematic Israeli military misconduct in Gaza. The rebuttal uses declassified IDF recordings, combat footage, and captured intelligence to argue that Hamas systematically exploits civilian areas.

Three Israeli creators — Lt. Col. Roi Danino, Hagai Gutman, and Ariel Averbuch — have released a documentary titled NAZA: The Real Story, designed as an explicit rebuttal to the Venice Film Festival-winning film NAZA, which alleges systematic Israeli military misconduct in Gaza. The counter-project dropped this week with English subtitles to immediately shape the global narrative. The filmmakers go on the offensive, using declassified IDF recordings, combat footage, and captured intelligence to mount a sharp counter-narrative focusing on Hamas's battlefield tactics. The core of the film tackles three main accusations made by NAZA regarding civilian casualties: the systematic exploitation of civilian areas by terrorists, the severe operational limitations imposed by the presence of hostages, and the immense security risks involved in facilitating humanitarian aid deliveries. Unlike the original film, which relied on hidden-identity testimonies from junior personnel, this project features open interviews with active intelligence officers and frontline military commanders. The creators present captured enemy manuals and operational videos to document their thesis. "This is an offensive film, not a defensive one," the directors said, making clear their intent to shift Israel out of the traditional position of the defendant. Parts of the documentary were filmed under tight operational security and the cover of night on Tel Aviv rooftops. The creators are utilizing digital influencers and grassroots international networks to push their footage directly to global policymakers and journalists.