Netanyahu orders criminal probe into soldiers in Gaza documentary
The prime minister demands identification of anonymous sources and prosecution for harming state security interests through the film NAZA.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the attorney general, the head of the Shin Bet security service, and the IDF chief of staff to urgently reveal the identities of soldiers interviewed in the documentary NAZA. He demanded they open a criminal investigation and prosecute those involved for causing harm to Israel’s diplomatic and security interests through what he termed a libelous film.
In a letter addressed to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, and Shin Bet Head David Zini, Netanyahu called for urgent action to uncover all individuals appearing in the production. The prime minister accused the participants of committing serious information security offenses and criminal defamation that severely damaged Israel’s global standing and breached the security of sensitive intelligence units.
The award-winning documentary, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, details Israel’s mass killing of civilians in Gaza using AI-powered systems. It features interviews with 24 Israeli military and intelligence insiders whose identities remain anonymous. The film recently won the special jury prize at the Venice International Film Festival after receiving the longest ovation in the event’s history.
Zamir previously denounced the film as an attack on the state, accusing it of spreading lies and blood libels. However, the military advocate general Itai Ofir noted that criminal prosecution would require evidence of security violations or disclosure of classified material. Government supporters have threatened to strip the filmmakers of their citizenship and picketed family homes while chanting slogans against them.
A Guardian spokesperson stated that these moves attempt to distract from urgent questions about civilian killings in Gaza. Ricardo Gutiérrez of the European Federation of Journalists described the threats as blatant intimidation against journalists doing their job in the public interest. The film builds on revelations published between 2023 and 2025, with over 100 sources interviewed during its production.