Venice: A new documentary focusing on Israel's use of AI in the mass targeting of civilians in Gaza has stirred significant attention at the Venice Film Festival. The film, directed by Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, was met with a 25-minute standing ovation following its premiere, as reported by an AFP reporter. This applause set a new record at the festival, surpassing a previous 23-minute ovation for another Gaza-related film last year.
According to France24.com, "NAZA" delves into the grim realities of an AI-powered system used by Israel for orchestrating attacks in Gaza. The filmmakers, through interviews with 24 Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers, unveil a chilling narrative of how this technology is employed. The interviewees, who requested anonymity, described the operations as akin to working in a killing "factory" or participating in a lethal video game.
The film takes its name from an Israeli intelligence euphemism used to denote the expected civilian casualties in airstrikes. It has been described as an "urgent gut-punch" by Screen magazine, while The Hollywood Reporter expressed that it evokes profound outrage and indignity towards the current Israeli regime. The film's premiere occurs against a backdrop of ongoing conflict, with reports from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, regarded as reliable by the United Nations, citing 73,500 Palestinian deaths and 174,500 injuries since October 2023.
The documentary's content is built on first-person accounts from military personnel, featuring a system called "Lavender" that identifies targets based on extensive surveillance data from Gaza. These accounts reveal the use of data from hacked mobile phones to make life-and-death decisions. The film also highlights the indiscriminate destruction of civilian homes and a pervasive atmosphere of animosity towards Palestinians within the Israeli military operations.
In addition to its critical reception, "NAZA" is noted for its investigative depth, stemming from nearly three years of research. The film is the only documentary competing at this year's Venice Film Festival and has been supported by notable producers, including Britain's Jim Wilson and Jonathan Glazer.
Amidst the persistent conflict, the film aims to challenge narratives and encourage international scrutiny of Israel's actions. Abraham and Szor hope that their work will influence Western nations to reconsider their support for Israel and apply pressure through sanctions.
While Israel maintains that it does not intentionally target civilians, allegations persist regarding the misuse of military force in civilian areas. As the conflict continues, foreign journalists face restrictions in reporting from Gaza, further complicating the dissemination of firsthand information.