IDF Southern Command Chief MG Yaniv Asor, speaking at a Rosh Hashanah ceremony Tuesday, addressed the NAZA documentary controversy, stating the IDF distinguishes combatants from non-combatants and will present facts against false claims. He accused Hamas of cynically using civilians as human shields and said the IDF insists on maintaining moral conduct. The ceremony included division and brigade commanders and local authority heads from the western Negev.
At a Rosh Hashanah ceremony held Tuesday at Southern Command headquarters, MG Yaniv Asor delivered a lengthy address addressing the controversy surrounding the upcoming documentary 'NAZA' (collateral damage). The ceremony was attended by division and brigade commanders as well as heads of local authorities in the western Negev.
Asor stated: 'In this war, we insist on maintaining the integrity of our own conduct: distinguishing between the enemy and those who are not involved in hostilities, striking the enemy, while doing everything to minimize harm to non-combatants.' He accused Hamas of embedding itself within the civilian population and benefiting whether civilians are harmed or spared. 'Hamas is not a foreign entity in Gaza. It grew from within it, developed and was educated there, inside a radical and murderous Islamic culture.'
In response to the film's allegations that the IDF systematically targets civilians, Asor said: 'In the face of false claims, we will present facts; to difficult questions, we will respond honestly. And when a failure is revealed among us, we will examine, learn, and correct.'
He also provided an operational update: 'Today, we are operating in the area of the Yellow Line in order to distance the threat, thwart terrorists and terrorist infrastructure, and prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities. We have struck its tunnel network, weapons, and weapons-production infrastructure.'
The NAZA documentary, which won an award at the Venice Film Festival, relies on testimony from anonymous soldiers to claim that Israel systematically targeted civilians using AI-assisted targeting. The IDF has not viewed the full film and has challenged the filmmakers to screen it. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir earlier labeled the film a 'blood libel' and ordered a review of information security following suspected leaks.
3 developments
- StrongSecurity establishment divided: Southern Command chief supports Gaza renewal, top brass hesitates
- StrongYuval Abraham defends 'Naz'a' allegations, says claims verified, wants film screened in Israel
- DevelopingHamas military spokesman praises southern Syria confrontation with IDF
- DevelopingIDF Central Command chief backs Samaria Brigade commander amid right-wing campaign
Source and signal
- Open-source intake