Netanyahu demands probe into soldiers' involvement in Gaza documentary

In short:

Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the prosecution of any soldiers who took part in a documentary about Israel's conduct in Gaza.

NAZA, which includes interviews with two dozen soldiers and intelligence officials, accuses the Israeli army of systematic mass civilian killings in Gaza.

What's next?

NAZA is scheduled to start screening in some Australian cinemas later this week.

Israel's prime minister is demanding a sweeping investigation and prosecution of any soldiers who took part in an explosive documentary about his country's conduct in Gaza.

NAZA, which details how Israel's military has waged a deadly campaign in the war-ravaged strip, was released to critical acclaim at the Venice International Film Festival last month.

Testimony from soldiers accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of systematic mass civilian killings.

It fuelled fierce debate in Israel and the filmmakers behind the documentary, Oscar-winning Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, faced allegations of treason and threats against them and their families.

Benjamin Netanyahu has now written to the heads of the IDF, domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet and the country's attorney-general — who has the power to order prosecutions — to investigate any soldiers who took part in NAZA.

"The film spins a false, misleading, and biased narrative that slanders the State of Israel and the IDF globally and severely damages Israel's standing," Mr Netanyahu wrote.

He said those involved should face prosecution for leaking sensitive information, criminal libel and damaging Israel's diplomatic and security interests.

Mr Netanyahu and senior members of his ministry had already promised to pursue legislation giving the government the power to strip citizenship from people who smeared Israeli soldiers.

NAZA, which is a reference to an Israeli military acronym referring to collateral damage, includes interviews with two dozen soldiers and intelligence officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Their testimony paints a vivid and disturbing picture of the techniques used by the IDF in Gaza, including artificial intelligence, to assess targets.

The IDF had rejected the film's allegations, and the Israeli government released a counter-documentary to try to discredit it.

Various organisations, including Reporters Without Borders, had condemned the Netanyahu government's attacks on NAZA and its team, arguing it was an example of attacks against the media ahead of the Israeli election on October 27.

One of Mr Netanyahu's challengers in the polls, Gadi Eisenkot, had echoed the government's criticism of the film.

NAZA is scheduled to start screening in some Australian cinemas later this week.

The filmmakers won an Academy Award for their 2024 film No Other Land, which exposed the violent behaviour of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and the support they received from the IDF.