Israeli documentary "Naza" earns 25‑minute standing ovation at Venice Film Festival The 80‑minute film by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, detailing Israel's AI‑driven killing system in Gaza, was met with a record 25‑minute ovation at its Venice premiere, sparking international outrage. The documentary "Naza" premiered at the 83rd Venice Film Festival on Thursday, September 10, 2026, and was greeted by a 25‑minute standing ovation, reportedly the longest in the festival's history. The film, directed by Oscar‑winning Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, exposes Israel's AI‑powered system, dubbed "Lavender," that screens Gaza's telecommunications data to identify targets for airstrikes. Interviewees, all veterans of the system whose identities were protected, described working in a "killing factory" and likened the process to a lethal video game."Naza" relies on testimony from 24 whistleblowers, many former military or intelligence personnel, who recount how civilians were systematically selected and eliminated. The documentary traces the flow of data-phone calls, movements, and interactions-collected through the state's surveillance network, and shows how the algorithm determines who is shot or targeted. One whistleblower explained that the system's parameters are complex and "so hard to understand" that even insiders felt uneasy.The film's title derives from a euphemism used by Israeli intelligence to estimate the number of civilians killed in an airstrike. The presentation of graphic footage and anonymised interviews left audience members stunned, with critics calling the work a "gut‑punch" and noting its capacity to incite outrage and indignity toward the current Israeli regime.Israel's bombardment of Gaza since October 7, 2023, has killed around 73,500 Palestinians and wounded 174,500, figures released by Hamas‑run health ministry that the United Nations deems reliable. The conflict began after Hamas militants killed 1,219 Israelis in a surprise attack. While Israel denies deliberate civilian targeting, the war's devastation is well documented in the film.The premiere of "Naza" marks the second major documentary by Abraham and Szor, who previously won an Oscar in 2025 for "No Other Land," a film about settler violence in the West Bank. The current film was produced with support from British entities, including Jim Wilson, Jonathan Glazer and the Guardian newspaper.The filmmakers expressed hope that the film would spur Western nations to withdraw support for Israel and apply pressure through sanctions, stating that "those of us inside Israel and Palestine need it." The 25‑minute ovation followed a standing ovation of a similar length for another Gaza‑related film, "The Voice of Hind Rajab," last year. The reaction underscores a growing shift in Western public opinion and increasing criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies. The Venice Film Festival's final day will conclude on Saturday, but the impact of "Naza" is already felt, with commentators and viewers debating its implications for international policy and humanitarian law.The documentary is the only film in competition at this year's festival, making its reception even more significant within the cinematic community. While ovations can be manipulated and are not definitive measures of a film's quality, they do offer a tangible indication of the work's resonance with viewers and critics alike.