Documentary on Israel’s AI Military Targeting Systems Faces Protests at New York Premiere

The documentary NAZA, which examines Israel’s AI-powered military targeting systems in Gaza, faced intense protests and defense from its makers during its North American premiere on Saturday at the Lincoln Center in New York. Co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor defended the film amid mounting pressure from Israeli officials seeking to strip them of their citizenship.

Produced by the Guardian and directed by Abraham and Szor, the 80-minute documentary features the testimony of 24 anonymized Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers. These sources describe the remote surveillance and AI-driven targeting systems used during military operations in Gaza. The project’s title originates from a euphemistic military acronym used by Israeli intelligence to indicate the expected civilian death toll for a planned strike.

Speaking at a post-screening Q&A session, Szor told the New York audience that state authorities actively work to conceal these operational systems from public view. Abraham added that the documented military actions remain ongoing with foreign funding and diplomatic backing.

Protests and Political Backlash

Outside the Lincoln Center theater, a couple dozen demonstrators gathered on Saturday afternoon, displaying Israeli flags and signage referencing the October 7, 2023, attacks led by Hamas. A digital billboard truck also circled the venue, labeling the production as political propaganda.

The New York screening followed statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who addressed the United Nations General Assembly nearby. Netanyahu defended the military campaign in Gaza as the opposite of genocide and criticized international critics. In interviews with domestic media outlets, Netanyahu compared the release of NAZA to launching ballistic missiles against Israel and pledged to advance legislation revoking the citizenship of Abraham and Szor.

Defense of Anonymity and Journalistic Methods

Responding to accusations from Israeli leadership, Abraham defended the documentary’s reliance on confidential military sources. He stated that granting confidentiality to whistleblowers is a historical investigative method necessary to uncover state-level operations that would otherwise remain hidden.

Activists have also targeted the filmmakers and their families domestically, leading to demonstrations outside Szor’s family home in central Israel earlier this month.