Bennett Calls 'NAZA' 'Blood Libel' After Venice Record — SkimNews
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- Naftali Bennett attacked NAZA in a lengthy X post following its Venice premiere, calling the film — which alleges Israel committed genocide — a 'cowardly blood libel' against Israeli soldiers and declaring he 'will not remain silent'
- NAZA received a record 25-minute standing ovation at Venice, surpassing The Voice of Hind Rajab's near-24 minutes and Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth's 22 minutes
- The documentary is based on interviews with 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers, exposing AI, phone surveillance, and points-based systems used by the Israeli military to select targets in Gaza, including strikes on family homes regardless of children present
- The UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded in September 2025 that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, identifying four of five genocidal acts under international law and citing Israeli leaders' statements as evidence of genocidal intent
- Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor previously co-directed No Other Land with Palestinian filmmakers Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal, which won the Best Documentary Academy Award in 2025 and documented Israeli-backed demolitions in the West Bank village of Masafer Yatta
- Bennett served as Israel's Prime Minister from June 2021 to June 2022 and is currently one of the leading candidates in Israel's 2026 election
Why it matters: Bennett, a front-runner in Israel's 2026 election, used 'blood libel' language to attack Israeli filmmakers whose Venice-premiered documentary drew on testimony from 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers. His stance directly opposes the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry's September 2025 genocide determination, a charge Israel officially denies.
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