Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Israel Promotes Mockumentary Challenging Award-Winning Film on Gaza Killings
A documentary called NAZA tells a story about civilians killed in Gaza.
It was made by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, and it won a prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The Israeli government is promoting another film called NAZA The Real Story.
That film copies parts of NAZA and argues that Israel’s army acts morally.
Its filmmaker, Ariel Averbuch, says the film is meant to shift attention from allegations about civilian deaths.
The new film’s website claims it has been watched over 42 million times, but its YouTube page shows about 30,000 views.
The article says more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023.
A United Nations commission has described the military campaign as genocide.
The Israeli government is promoting NAZA The Real Story, a film that imitates the style of NAZA.
NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and produced by The Guardian, documents civilian killings in Gaza.
Israeli lawyer and army reservist Ariel Averbuch made the new film, which says Israel has “the most moral army in the world.”
The mockumentary website claims more than 42 million views, while its official YouTube page shows about 30,000.
The article says more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023; a UN commission has described the military campaign as genocide.
- Who
- The Israeli government, filmmaker Ariel Averbuch, and the filmmakers of NAZA, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
- What
- The Israeli government is promoting a mockumentary that imitates NAZA and disputes its account of Gaza killings.
- When
- The NAZA website domain was registered on 16 September, six days after the documentary premiered at the Venice International Film Festival; the article gives no year for these dates.
- Where
- The films concern Gaza; NAZA premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, and the mockumentary reportedly uses rooftop interviews in Tel Aviv.
- Why
- Averbuch said the film was intended to shift international attention away from allegations that the Israeli military killed civilians.
NAZA’s account
Mockumentary’s claims
Depiction of Gaza killings
NAZA’s account
NAZA is described as a documentary about the mass killing of civilians in Gaza.
Mockumentary’s claims
NAZA The Real Story is presented as a counter to NAZA’s findings and claims Israel has “the most moral army in the world.”
Purpose of the new film
NAZA’s account
The original documentary presents findings about civilian deaths in Gaza.
Mockumentary’s claims
Ariel Averbuch said the new film was intended to shift international attention away from allegations that the Israeli military killed civilians.
- Mockumentary
- NAZA The Real Story
- Original documentary
- NAZA
- NAZA directors
- Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor
- Mockumentary filmmaker
- Ariel Averbuch, an Israeli lawyer and army reservist
- Website view claim
- More than 42 million views
- YouTube page views
- Around 30,000
- Reported Palestinian deaths
- More than 73,000 since 7 October 2023, according to the article
- Festival recognition
- NAZA won the Venice International Film Festival’s Special Jury Prize