Venice applause turns to intimidation

The Gaza documentary NAZA, which was met with a 25‑minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, has prompted death threats against its Israeli makers.

Audience roars to a short film

The 80‑minute film, presented in the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema, left the audience stunned. The applause lasted nearly a quarter of an hour, a rare gesture of collective appreciation in the festival’s history.

Anonymous voices on screen

NAZA profiles anonymous Israeli military personnel who describe widespread civilian casualties in Gaza. The film relies on their testimony, offering a perspective rarely seen in mainstream Israeli media.

"The film’s 80‑minute runtime left the audience stunned, prompting a 25‑minute standing ovation."

Back home, threats and political firestorms

In Israel, the documentary’s makers have received violent threats that have escalated into calls for revoking their citizenship. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to introduce legislation targeting those who "defame IDF soldiers".

Election season and the Gaza war

The film’s release comes a month before Israel’s crucial elections, a period already marked by intense debate over the Gaza conflict that began in 2025. Politicians and the public are divided over how best to address the war’s humanitarian toll.

Implications for the film and the country

NAZA’s controversial reception underscores the fraught relationship between art, politics and security in Israel. If the proposed citizenship‑revocation bill passes, it could set a precedent for how dissenting voices are treated in times of conflict.