Venice Film Festival documentary "NAZA" receives 25‑minute standing ovation

A 25‑minute documentary titled “NAZA,” directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday and received the longest standing ovation of the event so far this year. The film asserts that mass civilian deaths were routinely incorporated into Israeli military targeting decisions in Gaza, directly challenging the official narratives presented by Israeli authorities regarding the conduct of the war.

The documentary’s claims have sparked renewed scrutiny of the conflict’s operational policies, with analysts noting that the film adds to a growing body of investigative work examining civilian casualty figures and rules of engagement. While the festival audience responded enthusiastically, officials have not yet issued a formal comment, leaving the broader international community to assess the documentary’s evidence within the ongoing debate over accountability and humanitarian law in the Gaza theater.