A documentary showcasing an artificial intelligence system employed by Israeli forces in Gaza, which its creators claim has been used to kill civilians en masse, received enthusiastic applause for 25 minutes during its premiere on Thursday at the Venice Film Festival, according to AFP.
Titled “NAZA,” the film, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, features discussions with 24 sources from the Israeli military and intelligence sectors, all of whom were granted anonymity.
The 25-minute ovation is believed to set a new record at the festival, surpassing the previous 23-minute applause for a film about Gaza last year, as per AFP reports.
“We let soldiers and officers speak about what they did,” Abraham told AFP. “The goal was simple: we wanted to hear in detail how the killing systems looked in Gaza,” he added.
The 80-minute documentary derives its name from a euphemism used by Israeli intelligence to indicate the estimated number of civilians expected to be killed in an airstrike.
Since the onset of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, approximately 73,500 Palestinians have been killed and another 174,500 injured, according to data provided by the Palestinian health ministry, which the UN considers reliable. This campaign has been a response to the attack launched by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,219 deaths, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
“It’s Like a Video Game, Because Everything is Done Remotely”
Individuals appearing in “NAZA,” with their voices and faces digitally altered, describe a system known as “Lavender,” which was utilized to identify targets for assassination.
“It was done on a large scale, like a factory,” asserts one participant.
“Lavender” relies on data collected through mass surveillance in Gaza. The entire telecommunications network within the Palestinian enclave is monitored by Israel to identify targets based on phone calls, movements, and interactions.
Others recount the systematic destruction of civilian homes, the disregard for wartime and humanitarian laws, and a general atmosphere of “hatred” towards Palestinians.
“It’s like a video game, because everything is done remotely,” said one interviewee involved in target identification.
Israel has repeatedly denied allegations of war crimes.
