Soldiers, commanders and intelligence officers who fought in the Gaza Strip have produced a new documentary presenting their version of the war—a direct response to claims made in the film “NAZA.” The film, which premiered this morning (Wednesday) on the program “Israel This Morning,” includes battlefield testimonies, videos and materials that its creators say have not been shown to the public.
Behind the initiative are Ariel Avarbuch of the Gideon’s Sword organization and Lt. Col. (res.) Roy Danino, among others. According to them, after the public and international discourse generated by “NAZA,” they decided to create a film based on testimonies from those who actually operated inside the Strip and on filmed material from the events.
“The truth isn’t found in editing rooms, it’s found in the alleyways, in the children’s rooms,” the creators said, claiming the new film presents a completely different picture from the one shown in “NAZA.”
According to them, the film features interviews with senior officers alongside soldiers who operated in the field, who describe decision-making during combat, cases where strikes were halted due to the presence of children and civilians, and Hamas’s use of civilian spaces.
One piece of material to be shown in the film, according to the creators, was filmed at the beginning of the ground operation. One interviewee describes how a force that entered what initially appeared to be a civilian home reached a nursery, moved the cribs and discovered a tunnel shaft. According to him, inside a closet containing dolls and toys, they also found rockets. The video documenting the incident is expected to be revealed as part of the film.
Another segment shows, according to the film’s creators, a terrorist who was killed while wearing a tallit with tzitzit. According to them, the material is meant to illustrate the deception methods used by Hamas terrorists during the fighting.
The film’s creators emphasize that unlike what they claim about NAZA, the materials they use received the required approvals from the IDF. According to them, the very use of filmed testimonies and materials from the field allows viewers to examine the claims presented in the competing film against source materials.
According to them, the goal is not to settle for defensive public diplomacy but to use the materials in the international arena as well. The film is expected to be distributed with the help of influencers and through a digital campaign designed to reach audiences outside Israel as well.
“Our film is no less compelling than NAZA,” the creators said, “but because it has testimonies and materials from the field, it presents things to the public that they haven’t seen yet.”
The film, called “NAZA – The Real Story,” is available for viewing on the website created for the project. This is the first episode in a series, and the creators are already working on a follow-up film.