IDF Rejects Narrative of Venice Film Festival Winner 'Collateral Damage'
The IDF has officially rejected the narrative of the Venice-winning Israeli film "Collateral Damage", calling its claims about Gaza operations unfounded, anonymous, and reliant on misused legal terms.
The Israel Defense Forces has officially rejected the narrative presented in the award-winning Israeli film "Collateral Damage", which triumphed at the Venice Film Festival. The documentary depicts Israeli soldiers harming uninvolved civilians in the Gaza Strip. IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin published the military's formal response, stating that the allegations rely on anonymous testimonies and flawed legal definitions.
IDF Rejects Anonymous Allegations and Legal Claims
According to the military, the film utilizes unverified claims from sources whose military background and roles cannot be authenticated. The IDF emphasized that low-ranking soldiers cited in the project would not possess knowledge of high-level national and strategic military decisions. Furthermore, the military pointed out internal contradictions and the misuse of legal terminology regarding military operations and international law.
"The IDF operates in the Gaza Strip to defend Israeli citizens, directing its military activities against terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas, in accordance with international law and the laws of armed conflict," stated Brig. Gen. Defrin.
Operational Conduct and AI Use Clarified
The military reiterated that Hamas systematically embeds its infrastructure and operatives within civilian areas, using non-combatants as human shields. Addressing specific claims about artificial intelligence, the IDF stressed that all decisions regarding target selection and strike approval are made exclusively by human personnel in strict compliance with military protocols, rather than by automated AI systems.
The IDF concluded by noting that any credible suspicions of misconduct or violations of military law are thoroughly investigated through independent enforcement mechanisms. Soldiers are strictly required to report infractions, and the military maintains its commitment to accountability.
