Netanyahu demands criminal investigation against IDF participants of 'NAZA' film

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded that the IDF chief-of-staff, the head of the Shin Bet, and the attorney general initiate a comprehensive investigation into soldiers who testified anonymously in the recent “NAZA” film, which alleged war crimes in the Gaza War. 

He also requested that the participants be brought “to trial for serious information security offenses, criminal defamation, and harm to Israel's diplomatic and security interests.” 

In a letter posted to the Prime Minister's official social media accounts, Netanyahu wrote, “The film tells a false, misleading, and tendentious libel that slanders the State of Israel and the IDF around the world and severely damages Israel's status.” 

ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו פנה הערב בדרישה לרמטכ״ל, ראש השב״כ והיועמ״שית לפתוח בחקירה מקיפה כנגד המשתתפים בסרט ״נז״א״ והעמדתם לדין בגין עבירות ביטחון מידע חמורות, הוצאת דיבה פלילית ופגיעה באינטרסים מדיניים וביטחוניים של ישראל. ראש הממשלה נתניהו: ״הסרט מגולל עלילה שקרית, מטעה ומגמתית שמוציאה דיבה רעה על מדינת ישראל ועל צה״ל בעולם ופוגעת פגיעה קשה במעמדה של ישראל״.

— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) October 11, 2026

The 'NAZA' film examines the IDF's target-selection processes and the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza during the Iron Swords War, alleging that the military purposely killed civilians. It relies on anonymous testimonies from 24 IDF soldiers and officers of Unit 8200. 

The film sparked widespread public and political backlash in Israel, with critics condemning it as dishonest and anti-Israeli. Several Israeli politicians called for the Israeli citizenship of the directors, Rachel Shor and Yuval Avraham, to be revoked. 

The IDF has rejected the film's claims as “completely false” and issued an official, detailed response disputing its allegations.

At the same time, the IDF has already begun discussions on possible legal measures against those involved in the film over the potential unauthorized disclosure of classified materials. 

Additionally, Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate supported the production of a new counter-documentary, titled “NAZA: The True Story,” aimed at refuting the claims of the original film and exposing Hamas' war crimes and their use of the civilian population as human shields. 

Netanyahu’s call for an investigation comes amid a series of official responses and other measures following the film’s screening and award at the Venice Film Festival.

Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar also appealed to Shin Bet Director David Zini to launch an urgent investigation into the source of the information and materials used by the filmmakers. Zohar separately asked the director-general of the Interior Ministry to examine whether the filmmakers’ citizenship could be revoked on grounds of treason.  

The moves followed Netanyahu's announcement last month that he would advance legislation allowing for the revocation of Israeli citizenship and imposing heavy fines in libel suits against “those who harmed our soldiers.”