The Daily The Daily

The Israeli Film Directors Pushing for a Reckoning in Their Home Country

Oct 12, 2026 · 32m

Summary

The Daily interviews directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Cezor about their documentary "Naza," which won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival but has sparked intense backlash in Israel. The film features testimony from 24 anonymous Israeli military intelligence officers who describe using AI and mass surveillance to target Hamas members in their homes, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The directors discuss the moral implications of these tactics, the use of the term "collateral damage," and the personal threats they face, including death threats and a proposed bill t…

Topics discussed

Sponsor: Apple Card Introduction: Naza wins Venice Film Festival prize Backlash in Israel and Netanyahu's threat Film premise: Testimonies from 24 officers Directors discuss safety and public reaction Explaining the title 'Naza' (Collateral Damage) Profile of the 24 intelligence officers Targeting civilians in their homes at night Mass surveillance and 'Where Is Daddy?' system Use of AI algorithms for target identification Corroborating the claim of 500 civilian casualties IDF response and legal review of strikes Sponsors: Netflix and Metropolitan Opera Psychological impact and context vs. justification Officers' realization of intentional harm Cinematography: Depicting distance and daily life Use of Gaza footage and Holocaust comparisons Addressing concerns about antisemitism Future plans and returning to Israel Sponsors: Netflix and Broadway News: Houthi strikes and US-Russia fuel deal Credits and production team Sponsor: Citizens Bank
Listen ad-free on Castria