IDF chief Eyal Zamir says the film must be confronted with "every tool at our disposal"
Eyal ZamirChief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, in remarks reported in English by Ynetnews
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the film must be confronted decisively with legal, command and public-diplomacy tools, as he ordered the Military Advocate General to examine legal measures concerning the film and those involved in it.
“Such an attempt must be confronted decisively, using every tool at our disposal—legal, command, and public diplomacy.”
Official statement
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should Israel investigate and prosecute those who took part in the film NAZA?
On October 11, 2026, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet Director David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara demanding that they act urgently to identify everyone involved in or appearing in the documentary NAZA, open a criminal investigation for information-security offenses, criminal defamation and harm to Israel's diplomatic and security interests, and put those involved on trial. The film, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, presents testimony from 24 soldiers of the IDF's Unit 8200 intelligence unit about the military's conduct in the Gaza war, and won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival in September. Netanyahu called it false and defamatory. In September, Zamir ordered military lawyers to examine legal measures against those involved, and the Committee to Protect Journalists called on Israeli authorities to end threats of legal action against the filmmakers. The dispute is over whether Israel should investigate and prosecute the people who made the film or spoke in it.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Statement on CPJ's own website, published September 15, 2026.
Reporting
About this source
Ynetnews report on the directives Zamir issued after a meeting of senior commanders on Monday, September 14. It quotes his remarks in English and describes the legal review and the information-security examination he ordered.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Ynetnews reported that Zamir ordered the Military Advocate General to examine possible legal measures concerning the film and those involved in it, which could extend to people interviewed in the film if they are found to have disclosed classified intelligence. Just before this remark, he said the military would "not allow IDF soldiers to be made targets through lies and blood libels".
After the quotation
Zamir also called for a national and international public diplomacy campaign. He said the film "is based on blood libels, deliberate distortions of reality, and grave, false accusations against IDF soldiers and commanders."
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case asks whether Israel should investigate and prosecute the people who made NAZA or appeared in it, as Netanyahu demanded on October 11. Zamir orders military lawyers to examine legal measures against the film and those involved, and says it must be confronted with every tool, "legal, command, and public diplomacy". That supports pursuing legal action against those involved, so we labeled it Defended or excused. The closest competing label is Challenged characterization, since he disputes the film's account; it loses because he orders legal steps rather than only rebutting the film.
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More from this case
Read the full caseOfer Cassif rejects Netanyahu's demand to prosecute the NAZA participants
“You, a serial pathological liar, dare to smear creators who are faithful to the truth with lies and defamation? (Translated from Hebrew. Original: אתה – שקרן פתולוגי סדרתי – מעז להכפיש יוצרים הנאמנים לאמת בשקר ודיבה?)”Read statement
Netanyahu demands that the participants in NAZA be investigated and put on trial
“I demand that the Chief of Staff, the head of the Shin Bet and the Attorney General open a comprehensive investigation against the participants in the film "NAZA" and put them on trial for serious information-security offenses, criminal defamation and harm to Israel's diplomatic and security interests. (Translated from Hebrew. Original: אני דורש מהרמטכ״ל, מראש השב״כ ומהיועמ״שית לפתוח בחקירה מקיפה כנגד המשתתפים בסרט ״נז״א״ ולהעמיד אותם לדין בגין עבירות ביטחון מידע חמורות, הוצאת דיבה פלילית ופגיעה באינטרסים מדיניים וביטחוניים של ישראל.)”Read statement
CPJ says legal threats against the NAZA filmmakers are "a warning to journalists and sources"
Committee to Protect Journalists
“These threats cannot be dismissed as political rhetoric. They are a warning to journalists and sources about the potential consequences of reporting critically on powerful institutions”Read statement
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- IDF chief Eyal Zamir says the film must be confronted with "every tool at our disposal"
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/5567-idf-chief-of-staff-lt-gen-eyal-zamir
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "IDF chief Eyal Zamir says the film must be confronted with "every tool at our disposal"". First published: 2026-10-11. Last updated: 2026-10-11. https://disputeindex.com/events/5567-idf-chief-of-staff-lt-gen-eyal-zamir