Israel honors new film 'NAZA, The True Story' for countering anti-Israel documentary

Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate honored "NAZA: The True Story," a film that challenges the controversial anti-Israel documentary "NAZA," the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced Thursday. The original documentary, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, accuses Israel and the IDF of committing alleged war crimes in Gaza and disregarding civilian lives in the coastal enclave.

The PMO argued that the film "features testimonies from soldiers, refutes the blood libels against IDF soldiers and commanders, thereby defending our soldiers and the State of Israel."

Tzipi Hotovely, head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate and Israel’s former British ambassador, praised the “NAZA, The True Story” filmmakers Ariel Orbuch, Roy Danino, and Hagai Gutman for refuting falsehoods leveled against Israel;

"The film presents Israel's truth and the morality of IDF soldiers against the blood libels and lies spread against us worldwide," Hotovely said. "The film, which has garnered tens of millions of views, exposes Hamas' crimes and its vile use of the civilian population."

"I thank the filmmakers for their initiative, assertiveness, and creativity. You embody our remarkable civilian spirit, and I am proud to give you my support and recognition on behalf of the Directorate and the State of Israel," she added.

In September, the original NAZA documentary won the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where it received standing ovations. The Israeli military rejected the film’s allegations as “completely false,” including a claim that the IDF approved strikes expected to kill 500 civilians in Gaza. The title NAZA refers to a Hebrew abbreviation for collateral casualties.

“The IDF has never planned, approved, or carried out a strike in Gaza in which 500 civilians or anything near that number were anticipated to be killed. Nor was any credible claim raised throughout the war suggesting that an IDF strike had caused anything near that number of fatalities,” the military stated. It also challenged the credibility of the anonymous source behind the allegation, saying the filmmakers provided no verifiable evidence to support the claim.

The original NAZA documentary relies on interviews with purported anonymous IDF officials, while NAZA: The True Story features firsthand accounts from Israeli soldiers who fought Hamas in Gaza.

The original anti-Israel NAZA documentary is based on interviews with alleged anonymous IDF officials. In contrast, "NAZA, The True Story" is based on firsthand accounts from Israeli soldiers who served in combat against Hamas forces in Gaza.

Last month, Jewish Americans and Israelis protested a screening of NAZA in New York City. “Films have editors. History does not,” the Israeli-American Council said.

“We will not allow October 7 to be erased from the story.”