Gaza Doc Sparks Outcry: Israeli Minister Threatens Filmmakers' Citizenship

A new documentary titled 'NAZA,' which sheds light on the tragic human cost of military actions in Gaza, has ignited a fierce political storm in Israel, leading to threats against its Oscar-winning directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

The film, which recently earned a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival after a remarkable 25-minute standing ovation, delves into Israel’s AI-powered targeting systems and their devastating impact on civilians in Gaza. It features testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers, with one source alleging approval to kill 500 civilians to target a single Hamas member.

Following the film's success, Israel's culture minister, Miki Zohar, vehemently accused the directors of 'treason against the state.' Zohar took to X (formerly Twitter) to declare his immediate intention to revoke their Israeli citizenship, claiming they were willing to 'harm their homeland in order to receive applause from antisemites around the world.'

Other prominent Israeli figures have joined the chorus of condemnation.

Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir labeled the directors 'a disgrace' and 'embarrassment,' suggesting they seek refuge with Hamas.

Former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman called them 'haters of Israel,' while former prime minister Naftali Bennett described the film as a 'horrific blood libel.'

The chief of general staff of the Israeli military, Eyal Zamir, also weighed in, dismissing the film as 'blood libels, deliberate distortions of reality and grave, false accusations.' He indicated that military lawyers are exploring potential legal actions against the film and its creators. The revocation of nationality is a rare but legally possible action in Israel, typically reserved for acts of espionage or treason, with a law expanded in 2023 to include terrorism convictions.

This isn't the first time Yuval Abraham has faced backlash. His family home was targeted by a right-wing mob after the 2024 premiere of 'No Other Land,' another film focusing on Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank.

Abraham acknowledged the risks involved in their work, stating they operate within a system that inherently privileges Jewish-Israeli supremacy.

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