Israeli filmmakers launch counter-documentary to rebut ‘NAZA’

The counter-project, titled NAZA: The Real Story, dropped with English subtitles this week in a bid to immediately intercept the global narrative. 

Three Israeli creators have released a documentary designed to directly counter and discredit NAZA, the controversial, Venice Film Festival award-winning film that alleges systematic Israeli military misconduct in Gaza.

The counter-project, titled NAZA: The Real Story, dropped this week with English subtitles in an effort to immediately shape the global narrative.

Directed by Lt. Col. Roi Danino, Hagai Gutman, and Ariel Averbuch, the documentary positions itself as an explicit rebuttal of the original film’s anonymous whistleblower claims.

The filmmakers go on the offensive, using declassified IDF recordings, combat footage, and captured intelligence to mount a sharp counter-narrative focusing on the battlefield tactics of Hamas.

The core of NAZA: The Real Story tackles the primary accusations made by NAZA regarding civilian casualties. It centers on three main fronts: the systematic exploitation of civilian areas by terrorists, the severe operational limitations imposed on troops by the presence of hostages, and the immense security risks involved in facilitating humanitarian aid deliveries.

'An offensive film, not a defensive one'

Unlike the original anti-IDF film, which relied heavily on hidden-identity testimonies from junior personnel, this project features open interviews with active intelligence officers and frontline military commanders.

The creators present captured enemy manuals and operational videos to visually document their thesis: that civilian clothing, weapon stockpiles in family homes, and tactical hubs in residential areas are part of a calculated defensive strategy deployed against the IDF.

“This is an offensive film, not a defensive one,” the directors said, making it clear they intend to shift Israel out of the traditional position of the defendant on the world stage.

The urgency behind the project underscores how high the stakes are in the digital arena. Parts of the documentary were filmed under tight operational security and the cover of night on Tel Aviv rooftops. Key personnel involved in compiling the sensitive declassified materials still have their identities withheld for safety reasons.

With the original NAZA film gaining heavy distribution and visibility across Europe and the United States, the creators of this rebuttal are utilizing digital influencers and grassroots international networks to push their footage directly to global policymakers and journalists. For the production team, the ongoing clash is no longer just a debate over military strategy but a definitive, high-stakes war over who dictates the historical record to the international community.