NAZA, an Israeli documentary produced by The Guardian, made its U.S. debut this weekend at the New York Film Festival, with theatrical release scheduled to begin Oct. 9 across America. Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film centers on anonymized interviews with approximately two dozen IDF veterans discussing their experiences during the Gaza war.
The filmmakers explicitly stated their dual objectives: to mobilize a defund-the-IDF movement within the United States while attempting to influence Israeli voters in upcoming elections next month. Abraham emphasized from the festival stage that the film’s concluding text deliberately implicates American support for Israel, stating the focus was on changing political calculations rather than pursuing purely artistic goals. The timing of the release coincides with a midterm electoral season in which U.S. aid to Israel has become a contested issue in Congressional races across multiple states.
Centered on rooftop interviews conducted by Abraham himself, the documentary presents detailed accounts of military operations in Gaza, incorporating drone footage of Tel Aviv residents and examining the human toll of the conflict. The film has generated immediate polarization, with center-left Israeli media outlets showing receptiveness while expressing some skepticism about context, whereas right-wing figures have responded with hostility. Culture Minister Miki Zohar publicly stated he sought to revoke the citizenship of both directors, though he lacks authority to do so. Abraham addressed the controversy directly at the screening, distinguishing between justifying Oct. 7 and justifying civilian casualties in Gaza.
Abraham and Szor previously collaborated on the 2025 film No Other Land, which won an Oscar. Abraham’s journalism for The Guardian, Local Call, and +972 formed the foundation for NAZA’s reporting. The film’s deliberate juxtaposition of soldier testimonies with footage of civilian life in high-rise apartments has provoked criticism from both supporters and opponents of Israeli military operations, with interpretations diverging sharply along political lines.
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