Venice-awarded Gaza documentary NAZA to stream free online following Israeli political backlash

Free online distribution plan

Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor announced on 24 September 2026 that their award-winning documentary NAZA will be available online for free starting in November 2026. The production, co-produced by British newspaper The Guardian, will stream indefinitely on the publication's website following its global cinema rollout. Abraham stated that the decision aims to provide universal access to the film's findings and the recorded testimonies of Israeli military personnel. The filmmakers also offered the documentary free of charge to Israeli cinema operators, seeking local screenings alongside the international release. This online rollout is scheduled to occur after the Israeli legislative elections taking place on 27 October 2026.

Abraham described the initiative on social media platform X:

“Together with The Guardian we decided to offer the film online for free and indefinitely so that anyone can see it and hear the soldiers' testimonies.”

Investigation of military operations in Gaza

The documentary is the result of a three-year journalistic investigation into Israeli military procedures during operations in Gaza. Its title, NAZA, is an Israeli military acronym designating estimated collateral damage calculated before conducting airstrikes. The narrative relies on anonymous testimonies from 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel detailing strikes on residential structures, firing near food distribution points, and rules of engagement. It also examines the use of artificial intelligence and automated surveillance software in the selection of targets. Abraham stated that the film seeks to prompt public discussion about military actions resulting in over 73,000 deaths in Gaza, while explicitly stating that Hamas bears responsibility for the 7 October 2023 attacks.

Abraham explained the purpose behind the reporting:

“The film is based on an extensive three-year journalistic investigation and the details in it are verified and cross-checked. It will speak for itself and the truth will eventually come to light.”

Political backlash and threats of sanctions

The documentary provoked severe reactions from Israeli officials following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a 25-minute standing ovation and won the Special Jury Prize on 12 September 2026. Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar called for legal procedures to strip Abraham and Szor of their Israeli citizenship and requested a criminal investigation into the film's anonymous sources. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the project, asserting that depicting the armed forces in this manner abroad was intolerable. The Israel Defense Forces rejected the claims presented in the film, questioning the credibility of the unidentified witnesses and stating that the military takes measures to prevent civilian casualties. Far-right activists also gathered in protest outside the home of Szor's parents.

International theatrical rollout

Before its digital release, NAZA is scheduled for theatrical distribution across 56 territories through distributor mk2 Films starting 28 September 2026. The rollout includes cinemas in the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Brazil, Turkey, Thailand, France, Germany, and several Middle Eastern countries. In Italy, distributor I Wonder Pictures scheduled screenings from 28 to 30 September, with advance showings in Rome on 27 September and sold-out previews in Milan on 25 and 26 September. The film holds its United States premiere at the New York Film Festival on 26 September before showing at the IFC Center in New York and expanding to Los Angeles. Spanish theatrical releases are set for 9 October, while The Guardian reported efforts to organize screenings in the occupied Palestinian territories.