A new 49-minute documentary titled NAZA: The Real Story has appeared online, directly challenging the award-winning Gaza documentary NAZA by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
Released weeks after the original premiered at the Venice Film Festival, the counter-film was made by three Israeli creators, including IDF reservists, and uses a similar visual style and even the same Tel Aviv rooftops. While the original documentary features testimonies from Israeli military insiders about the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the new film presents the Israeli military’s account of the war and argues that Hamas operated from within civilian areas.
So, What Does “NAZA” Mean?
The title refers to “Nezek Agavi,” a Hebrew military term translated as “collateral damage.” The term has been reported as shorthand used in Israeli military discussions to describe the number of civilians expected to be killed during an airstrike.
The original film uses the term to examine allegations that civilian deaths were knowingly factored into Israeli military operations in Gaza, including claims surrounding the use of AI-assisted targeting systems.
The Original NAZA
Running for around 80 minutes, NAZA was filmed secretly at night on Tel Aviv rooftops and features testimonies from 24 Israeli military intelligence officers, soldiers and other insiders.
Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the documentary investigates how Israeli military targets were selected in Gaza and what its sources say about civilian casualties.
The film quickly became one of the most talked-about titles at Venice, receiving a record-breaking 24.5-minute standing ovation after its September 10 premiere before winning the festival’s Special Jury Prize.
A Film Made to Challenge It
Then came NAZA: The Real Story, a 49-minute counter-documentary created by Israeli filmmakers Roi Danino, Ariel Averbuch and Hagay Gutman.
The film was released online in late September and was deliberately made in a similar format to the original, including interviews filmed at night on Tel Aviv rooftops. It features senior IDF commanders and intelligence officers speaking on camera about how they say the war in Gaza was conducted.
What the Counter-Film Argues
Rather than focusing on allegations of intentional civilian killings, NAZA: The Real Story centers on the Israeli military’s explanation of its operations.
Those interviewed claim that Hamas fighters operated in civilian clothing and that weapons and military infrastructure were located in or around homes, schools, mosques, and hospitals. The film also discusses hostages allegedly held inside civilian homes and the restrictions that commanders say this placed on military operations.
The Israeli Embassy in the US shared the film on X, describing it as a documentary that is “setting the record straight” and highlighting its interviews with senior IDF commanders and intelligence officers. Reports have also documented promotion of the film by Israeli diplomatic accounts in the UK.
The Search-Engine Confusion
The release has also sparked discussion online because of its near-identical title and presentation.
The resemblance has led some online users to accuse the counter-film of being designed to intercept audiences looking for the original documentary. Others have framed it as a deliberate attempt to challenge the narrative created by Abraham and Szor’s film.
With both documentaries called NAZA, viewers searching for the Venice-winning film can encounter NAZA: The Real Story alongside or ahead of the original, potentially making it difficult to immediately distinguish between the two.
With a copycat NAZA arriving after the original gained international attention and a Venice prize, its near-identical title and format naturally raise questions. Is the film simply offering a counter-narrative, or could the similarities make it harder for audiences to find and recognize the original?
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