The documentary 'NAZA,' created by filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, offers a detailed account of Israeli military actions in Gaza through interviews with members of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Filmed over three years, the film features 24 service members who discuss their roles in operations targeting Gaza, often using sketchpads to explain their activities. To protect identities, the soldiers are shown in silhouette with altered voices.
The term 'NAZA,' used by the IDF, refers to 'collateral damage' and serves to depersonalize the deaths of civilians during military strikes. The film explores how this terminology facilitates a psychological detachment from the human cost of these operations. Soldiers describe their involvement in surveillance, drone strikes, and ground missions aimed at erasing both people and infrastructure in Gaza.
The documentary reveals that Israeli forces monitor Gazan communications extensively, allowing them to know the locations and conditions of civilians before and during attacks. A particularly striking detail is the practice described as 'Where’s Daddy?,' where soldiers listen to a child's phone to determine when family members are present before launching strikes.
'NAZA' also addresses the mindset of the soldiers, some of whom compare their experiences to video games, finding a sense of accomplishment in successful missions. Despite acknowledging the severity of their actions, including admissions of genocide, the soldiers often justify their roles as technical and necessary, emphasizing trust in the military system.
The film situates these testimonies within a broader context of Israeli policies toward Gaza, including the systematic destruction of homes and infrastructure to prevent the return of displaced populations. Through its neutral tone and firsthand accounts, 'NAZA' provides a stark look at the operational realities and ethical complexities of the conflict.
By juxtaposing these interviews with scenes of everyday life in Tel Aviv, the documentary invites reflection on the societal acceptance of military actions. 'NAZA' contributes to the ongoing discourse on the Gaza conflict by offering insights that challenge viewers to reconsider the human impact behind military terminology and strategy.