JERUSALEM: Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar has called for the citizenship of the directors of an Israeli-made Gaza documentary to be revoked, accusing them of “treason against the state”.
The most prominent and widely discussed film about the Israel-Gaza conflict is “NAZA”, a groundbreaking 2026 documentary directed by Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
Produced in association with The Guardian, the film won the prestigious Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice Film Festival after receiving a record-breaking 25-minute standing ovation.
The comments came after “NAZA” won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. The documentary features interviews with Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers discussing the use of AI-powered targeting systems during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Zohar criticised the filmmakers in a post on X, saying he would work to revoke their citizenship over what he described as actions against Israel.
Political Backlash
Other Israeli ministers also criticised the directors. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused them of damaging Israel’s reputation and made further comments targeting the filmmakers.
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Abraham and Szor previously won an Oscar in 2025 for their documentary “No Other Land”, which focused on Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
The revocation of citizenship is legally possible in Israel but is rarely used. Israeli law allows citizenship removal in certain cases involving national security-related offences, including convictions linked to terrorism.
Film Sparks Debate
Abraham said Israeli intelligence officers interviewed for the documentary described the military campaign in Gaza as systematic.
The documentary’s release comes amid continued international debate over the Gaza war.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 people, according to the territory’s health ministry.
The controversy surrounding “NAZA” has intensified discussions in Israel over artistic expression, national security and criticism of government policies.
The documentary investigates the mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Its title comes from an acronym used by Israeli intelligence to indicate the number of civilian casualties considered “allowed” or expected during an airstrike.
The Whistleblowers: Filmed secretly at night on rooftops in Tel Aviv, the documentary features interviews with 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers.
They describe working in a killing “factory” and explain how AI-powered targeting systems are used to orchestrate bombardments.
