NAZA film ‘participant’ said he was paid for exaggerating Gaza casualty numbers

The Venice award-winning film “NAZA” alleges that the IDF uses AI to select airstrikes in ways that maximize civilian casualties.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A man claiming to be one of the anonymous soldiers who participated in the anti-Israel documentary “NAZA” alleged that interviewees received higher payments for citing larger casualty figures, according to a masked interview released by Israeli private investigator Shmulik Maman.

Maman, a licensed private investigator, stressed that the identity of the man and the allegations he made could not be verified.

The unidentified interviewee said he regretted appearing in the documentary, produced by Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, and alleged that financial incentives encouraged participants to inflate casualty estimates.

“But when they offer you 10 shekels for every extra person that you mention, say 400, you get 4,000 shekels; say 500, you get 5,000,” he said. “So people start exaggerating. They see the cash right in front of them; what can you do?”

Discussing airstrikes, the man said, “I can tell you that collateral damage figures of 400 or 500 don’t exist.” He identified the strike that killed Mohammed Deif as the worst case he knew of, saying it caused about 90 casualties and that roughly half were terrorists.

Asked directly about his involvement, he replied, “Yes, I took part in the film, unfortunately. And they manipulated me so much.”

“NAZA” alleges that the IDF uses AI to select airstrikes in ways that maximize civilian casualties.

It won an award after debuting at the Venice International Film Festival last week, where it received nearly 25 minutes of applause.

Israeli officials and the military have taken several steps in response to the documentary.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered an investigation into possible leaks of classified information used in the production, while the military demanded access to the full film so it could respond to its allegations.

Legal action against Abraham and Szor is also under consideration.

Culture Minister Miki Zohar moved to revoke the filmmakers’ Israeli citizenship. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately proposed two bills targeting those who defame IDF soldiers, including citizenship revocation and a twentyfold increase in the ability to sue.

The purported participant also accused the filmmakers of being motivated by money,

Anti-Israel PropagandaIDFNAZA