IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir on Monday held a consultation regarding the film “NAZA," following allegations against the IDF presented in promotional material for the film.
The consultation was attended by Deputy Chief of Staff MG Tamir Yadai, Head of the Operations Directorate MG Itzik Cohen, Military Advocate General MG Itai Ofir, Israeli Air Force Commander MG Omer Tishler, Commander of Unit 8200 BG A., IDF Spokesman BG Effie Defrin, and additional commanders.
During the discussion, Zamir said that the film constitutes a deliberate attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the IDF and the State of Israel.
“Based on what has been published thus far, this is not a film offering criticism of the IDF, nor is it an attempt to establish the truth," Zamir said. “It is based on blood libels, deliberate distortions of reality, and grave, false accusations against IDF soldiers and commanders."
“This is an attack on the State of Israel, not only on the IDF. It adopts the narratives of those who hate Israel, it defames our soldiers and commanders, and seeks to portray the IDF as deliberately acting unlawfully," he added.
Zamir warned that the film represents “a dangerous attempt to deny us the legitimacy to defend ourselves against the worst of our enemies-and, in doing so, to place IDF soldiers and commanders at genuine risk."
The Chief of Staff stressed that the IDF operates in accordance with international law, the IDF’s ethical code and values, and works to mitigate harm to uninvolved civilians. He added that the ratio of civilian casualties to terrorists is significantly lower than that of other militaries around the world.
“We will not allow IDF soldiers to be made targets through lies and blood libels," Zamir stated. “Such an attempt must be confronted decisively, using every tool at our disposal-legal, command, and public diplomacy."
Zamir emphasized the need for a broad national and international public diplomacy effort in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, National Public Diplomacy Directorate, and other relevant bodies.
At the conclusion of the discussion, Zamir ordered the establishment of a multi-agency, multidisciplinary team, led by the Head of the Planning Directorate, which will formulate courses of action and tools for addressing false allegations against the IDF and its soldiers. The team will work in cooperation with experts from Israel and around the world.
The Chief of Staff also instructed the Military Advocate General to examine and advance possible legal measures concerning the film and those involved in it, including in light of the dissemination of false allegations against IDF soldiers and the potential implications for their personal safety and Israel’s national security.
In addition, information-security aspects of the matter will be examined, including the possible involvement of individuals in the unauthorized disclosure of classified materials used in the production of the film.
Zamir stressed that the IDF will use every tool at its disposal to protect its soldiers, commanders, and combat troops, as well as the reputation of the IDF.
Earlier on Monday, IDF Spokesman BG Effie Defrin strongly condemned allegations presented in promotional material for “NAZA," describing them as false, distorted, and disconnected from the reality on the ground.
“The film ‘NAZA’ has not yet been released in full, but from what can be seen in the promotional material, it presents a series of serious and false allegations regarding the IDF and those who serve in it," Defrin wrote in a post on X.
“The allegations presented in the promo are untrue, and some are even presented in a distorted and misleading manner, completely disconnected from the reality on the ground."
Defrin stressed that the IDF operates in accordance with international law and binding professional standards, including during complex combat operations.
“It is important for me to emphasize: The IDF is a values-based military that operates in accordance with international law and according to binding professional values and standards," he stated. “This is how we have operated throughout the past three years, and this is how we will continue to operate, even under the most complex combat conditions."
The IDF Spokesman also invited the filmmakers to allow IDF representatives to view the film in its entirety, so that the military can address each of the allegations individually.
“In order to enable a substantive, professional, and fact-based discussion, rather than settling for false representations, I invite the filmmakers to allow IDF representatives to view the full film so that we can respond substantively to each of the allegations raised in it," Defrin wrote.
He added that public discussion surrounding the film should be based on facts “not false representations and defamatory lies."
“Since October 7, the IDF has been operating tirelessly to defend the country and its citizens. I, together with all IDF commanders, stand fully behind the IDF’s soldiers, commanders, and service members, and utterly reject the baseless smears against them," Defrin concluded.
“Those who have sacrificed and defended, and who continue to defend the country, deserve to receive support and protection in return."