Jerusalem: Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir has directed the military's top legal official to explore potential legal actions against the makers of the Gaza war documentary, "NAZA," following the film's receipt of the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. The documentary, which has stirred significant controversy, focuses on alleged crimes committed by the Israeli army during the conflict in Gaza, as recounted by Israeli soldiers.

According to Anadolu Agency, the directive was issued during a consultative meeting Zamir conducted with senior military commanders. Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, alongside the Foreign Ministry and the military spokesperson, is engaging in intensive discussions to develop a media strategy to counter the film's narrative.

An Israeli army statement revealed Zamir's assertion that the documentary represents a "deliberate attempt to directly undermine the legitimacy of the army and the State of Israel." The statement further mentioned that Zamir has commissioned an interagency and multidisciplinary team, led by the army's planning directorate chief and comprising experts from Israel and abroad, to devise strategies to counter what he described as "false allegations" against the Israeli army.

Zamir has also instructed the military attorney general to consider pursuing legal action against the film and those involved in its production. Despite dismissing the film's content as "false allegations," Zamir has ordered an assessment of information-security risks and potential leaks of classified material used in the film's production.

The documentary "NAZA" was met with widespread acclaim and a 25-minute standing ovation during its Venice Film Festival screening. It presents detailed testimonies regarding Israeli military operations and bombing methods in the Gaza Strip, revealing the use of surveillance technologies and artificial intelligence to identify targets. Additionally, the film features accounts from Israeli military personnel who claim to have witnessed civilian areas being targeted and individuals killed while distributing food.

The film's title, "NAZA," is derived from an acronym used by Israeli military intelligence to estimate civilian casualties in airstrikes. The Israeli offensive has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 73,000 people, with more than 174,000 wounded, and has caused extensive destruction affecting approximately 90% of Gaza's civilian infrastructure since October 2023.