Israelis’ film alleging AI-assisted killing of Gaza civilians wins Venice jury prize

VENICE, Italy — A new documentary about Israel’s alleged AI-assisted killing of civilians in the Gaza Strip by two Israeli directors won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. “NAZA,” by Oscar-winning Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, had been tipped by some critics for the top Golden Lion prize for best film after a record-breaking 25-minute ovation at its premiere on Thursday. Receiving the award, Abraham said that in the 10 days since the festival began, “Israel killed six Palestinian children in Gaza at least.” “The Israeli intelligence officers we spoke with talked to us how this mass killing is systemic: not by accident, but by design, actions of murder and policies that are based on the total dehumanization of Palestinians,” he told the audience. The special jury prize is given out each year by the jury to recognize an outstanding work, but it is below the Golden and Silver Lions in the pecking order. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Newsletter email address Get it By signing up, you agree to the terms Abraham and Szor used conversations with 24 different Israeli military or intelligence whistleblowers who spoke on condition that their identities be protected. Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor look drawn and solemn amid strong applause for Golden Lion Contender ‘NAZA’ exposing Israeli targeting of civilians in Gaza #VeniceFilmFestival pic.twitter.com/hqyzoZhwHM — Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 10, 2026 Advertisement The 80-minute film left many audience members stunned, with interviewees describing how they felt like they worked in a killing “factory” or a lethal video game while using Israel’s AI-powered targeting systems to bombard Gaza. It was described as an “urgent, gut-punch” by film magazine Screen, while The Hollywood Reporter said it inspired “outrage… indignity as well. Most certainly disgust, on a profound level, for the current Israeli regime.” The film was the only documentary in Venice’s main competition. Abraham said it was “really, really, especially important for us that Israelis watch this film.” “It’s our country that is doing these crimes,” he said. The Gaza war, which was sparked by the Hamas-led October 2023 terror onslaught against Israel, has killed over 73,500 people in Gaza, including more than 1,330 since the October 2025 ceasefire, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave, although the toll does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. The Israeli military believes that Hamas’s overall toll is largely accurate, with IDF officials estimating that two to three civilians were killed for every dead terror operative. Advertisement An explosion erupts following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, September 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) The Israel Defense Forces said Friday it “categorically rejects” allegations made in the new documentary. The military criticized the use of anonymous testimonies in the film, saying the identities of the whistleblowers “cannot be verified.” Asked by a journalist following the awards ceremony about the military’s reaction, Abraham responded that “it seems like an attempt to not face reality.” Abraham defended the film’s reporting, done in partnership with Britain’s The Guardian newspaper, calling it “rigorous” and its findings reported by other mainstream journalists as well. He asserted that the filmmakers had received threats but did not go into more detail. Abraham and Szor were also part of the team behind the 2024 documentary “No Other Land,” which chronicled Israel’s demolitions in the Palestinian West Bank village of Masafer Yatta and won an Academy Award for best documentary feature. During his 2024 acceptance speech, Abraham spoke of the “atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people, which must end,” as well as “the Israeli hostages, brutally taken in the crime of October 7, which must be freed.” Help us report truthfully on social media As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos. This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world. If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism , please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. 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Sign in to stop seeing this Most Popular 1 Saudi Arabia shutters major oil pipeline struck by drones from Iraq 2 Man with Palestinian flag runs on field at 9:11 in 9/11 NY ball game, is pelted with beer cans 3 Trump: Iran likely behind attack on Saudi pipeline, Houthis told us they don’t want to fight 4 Trump said to reject Saudi request for strikes on Houthis, as they complete Bab el-Mandeb takeover 5 Houthis seize key Red Sea islands, complete takeover of vital Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane 6 Chabad cancels Rosh Hashanah event in Phuket due to Israeli security officials’ concerns 7 IDF rejects testimonies in Israeli-made documentary about AI-powered killing in Gaza 8 Boy George performs ‘We Will Dance Again’ in public for first time at Vancouver shul read more: Israel & the Region Venice Film Festival documentary Gaza Strip IDF Israel Defense Forces 2023-2025 Israel-Hamas war If you’d like to comment, join The Times of Israel Community. JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY Already a member? 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