IDF Chief Blasts Gaza Film as ‘Blood Libel,’ Orders Legal Review

The film accuses Israel of deliberately killing Palestinian civilians in Gaza, relying heavily on anonymous interviews.

By United with Israel Staff

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Monday fiercely rejected accusations made in an Israeli documentary alleging indiscriminate killing of Palestinians in Gaza, denouncing the film as a collection of “blood libels” and ordering a review of possible legal action against those involved.

Zamir convened a special meeting of senior IDF commanders over “NAZA,” an 80-minute documentary by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor that recently won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival.

The film accuses Israel of deliberately killing Palestinian civilians in Gaza, relying heavily on anonymous interviews with 24 people described as Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers.

The IDF forcefully rejected that portrayal, maintaining that its forces operate in accordance with international law and the military’s ethical code while taking extensive measures to minimize civilian casualties during combat against Hamas.

“Based on what has been published so far, this is not a film criticizing the IDF, nor is it an attempt to uncover the truth,” Zamir said. “It is based on blood libels, a deliberate distortion of reality and false and grave accusations against IDF soldiers and commanders.”

“This is an attack on the State of Israel, not only on the IDF,” he continued. “It adopts the narratives of Israel’s enemies, slanders our soldiers and commanders and seeks to portray the IDF as deliberately acting unlawfully.”

Zamir warned that the accusations go beyond criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and could have real-world consequences for Israeli troops.

“This is a dangerous attempt to deny us the legitimacy to defend ourselves against the worst of our enemies, while actually endangering IDF soldiers and commanders,” he said.

“We will not allow IDF soldiers to be turned into targets through lies and blood libels.”

Following the meeting, Zamir instructed the Military Advocate General to examine possible legal measures concerning the documentary and those involved in its production.

The military will also investigate whether classified intelligence was leaked for use in the film and identify anyone potentially involved in providing such material.

Zamir ordered the creation of a multidisciplinary team to develop ways of combating false accusations against the IDF and called for a broader international public diplomacy effort involving the Foreign Ministry, Justice Ministry and other government bodies.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also rejected the film’s portrayal of the IDF, describing the acclaim it received overseas as “shocking.”

“We are fighting global antisemitic incitement, and when it comes from within us it is intolerable,” Netanyahu said. “And now two Israeli directors portraying the IDF as war criminals receive applause at the Venice festival.”

Culture Minister Miki Zohar went further, asking authorities to examine whether Abraham and Szor could be stripped of their Israeli citizenship on grounds of what he called “betraying the State of Israel.”

The documentary, co-produced by The Guardian, claims its anonymous interviewees reveal the systems behind Israel’s alleged “calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”

The Guardian defended the documentary Monday, saying it was “disturbed” by what it characterized as an “authoritarian response” in Israel and insisting the film was based on more than three years of investigative journalism.

“We will robustly defend NAZA, and the team behind it, from any attacks or attempts at censorship,” the newspaper said.

The IDF, however, said it would use all available legal, command and public diplomacy tools to defend its troops against allegations it considers false and damaging to both Israel’s security and its military’s legitimacy.