Netanyahu orders probe into Israeli soldiers interviewed for Gaza documentary
Netanyahu called for investigations into alleged information security offences, criminal defamation and damage to Israel's diplomatic and security interests
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the attorney general, the military chief of staff and the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency to urgently identify Israeli military personnel interviewed in the documentary NAZA and initiate criminal proceedings against them, according to reports.
Netanyahu called for investigations into alleged information security offences, criminal defamation and damage to Israel's diplomatic and security interests, says The Guardian.
The documentary, produced by The Guardian and directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, examines the mass killing of civilians in Gaza. Its title derives from an Israeli intelligence acronym used as a euphemism for calculating expected civilian casualties in airstrikes.
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NAZA premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize, and is scheduled for release in more than 50 countries.
Reporting and evidence
Over three years, Abraham and Szor interviewed more than 100 sources, including senior Israeli military commanders directly involved in authorising strikes, according to information about the film's reporting process.
Their work relied on leaked classified documents, verification of specific strikes and corroboration from journalistic sources.
The documentary has prompted a backlash from Israeli government officials, who accused the filmmakers of treason and threatened to revoke their Israeli citizenship.
Protesters picketed Szor's parents' home, chanting "Death sentence to traitors", while hostile graffiti targeting the directors appeared in Ashdod.
Military and legal response
Israeli military Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described the film as an attack spreading "lies and blood libels".
Military Advocate General Itai Ofir said formal criminal prosecution would require evidence of classified leaks or security violations, although internal disciplinary measures remained possible.
Netanyahu has directed Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Zamir and Shin Bet chief David Zini to identify the personnel involved and pursue the matter urgently.
The Israeli government has also promoted an online counter-project, NAZA: The Real Story, created by army reservist Ariel Averbuch, to challenge the documentary's claims.
Press freedom concerns
The Guardian defended the documentary's verification process and described the government's actions as an attempt to intimidate journalistic sources and divert attention from the film's findings.
The European Federation of Journalists and leaders of international film festivals have also expressed solidarity with Abraham and Szor, condemning the intimidation tactics directed at the filmmakers.
