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NAZA by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor Had Its Mexican Premiere at the 24th FICM

Berenice Andrade Medina

Naza, a documentary by Israeli filmmakers and investigative journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, premiered in Mexico at the 24th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM).

Filmed in secret over the course of three years, Naza is based on clandestine conversations held at night from rooftops in Tel Aviv, featuring testimonies from individuals who designed and executed the systematic killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The anonymous accounts come from 24 members of the Israeli military and military intelligence services, who detail how the "Lavender," "Where's Daddy," and "Homeland" artificial intelligence systems that are used to automate the selection of military targets operate.

Before a packed Matamoros Theater, Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Batel, vice president of the FICM, spoke about the relevance of screening this documentary and how its distribution contributes to understanding a conflict "that if we do not fully understand it, will be difficult to solve."

He recounted how the filmmakers, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, have been unable to return to their country because they are accused of treason. “I think being accused of treason by a criminal government is a source of pride. I think it shows that there are people everywhere who are willing to resolve things peacefully.” 

Before concluding his presentation, he emphasized that the FICM is a space committed to peace: “It is not only a space that calls on us all to speak out for an end to violence—wherever it may come from—but also a space that opens up opportunities to debate peace, to understand conflict, and, of course, to demand an end to the criminal genocide currently being perpetrated against the Palestinian people.”

For his part, film critic Alonso Díaz de la Vega remarked that Naza is an incredibly moving film—not only for what it shows regarding the genocide in Gaza, but also for what it reveals about the atrocities being committed on a global scale.

“In this film, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor present a series of revelations regarding the use of military technology, artificial intelligence, and espionage—tools that the Israeli government claims are being used for self-defense, though that is not the case,” the critic added. “We are witnessing a story of colonialism—specifically, colonial technology. It shows how, for the past 80 years, technology and dehumanization have converged to create one of the most chilling laboratories in human history.”

“The most significant response this screening could elicit is not silence, but rather the call: ‘Free Palestine,’” concluded Díaz de la Vega.

The term “naza” is derived from the Hebrew military acronym *nezek agavi*, which translates to “collateral damage.” It refers to a system of numerical thresholds, established by the military, used to determine how many innocent civilian deaths are considered “acceptable” when targeting a single member of Hamas.

The film will be available in select theaters starting October 22.