5 hrs ago
Israeli Minister Seeks Citizenship Revocation for Gaza Film Directors
An Israeli minister wants two filmmakers to lose their citizenship.
The filmmakers made a documentary called “NAZA” about Israel’s war in Gaza.
They interviewed Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers about computer systems allegedly used to choose bombing targets.
The filmmakers say these systems helped cause widespread and deliberate killing.
Israel’s military says the anonymous witnesses in the film cannot be verified.
Israel also denies deliberately targeting civilians.
Another minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, criticized the filmmakers too.
The film won a prize at the Venice Film Festival.
Israeli law permits citizenship removal in some cases, but several officials and judges must approve it.
Culture Minister Miki Zohar called for Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor to lose their Israeli citizenship, accusing them of treason.
Their documentary “NAZA” features 24 Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers discussing alleged AI-assisted targeting in Gaza.
The 80-minute film won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival, while the directors won a 2025 Oscar for “No Other Land.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also condemned the directors and suggested Hamas would welcome them in Gaza.
Israeli law allows citizenship revocation in limited circumstances, but requires ministerial approvals and judicial validation; Israel denies deliberately targeting civilians.
- Who
- Culture Minister Miki Zohar called for directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor to lose their citizenship; National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also criticized them.
- What
- The ministers criticized the directors’ documentary “NAZA” and accused them of treason and harming Israel.
- Where
- The dispute concerns Israel and the documentary’s allegations about Israeli military operations in Gaza.
- When
- Zohar made the call on Sunday, after “NAZA” won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival.
- Why
- Zohar said the directors were harming their homeland by publicizing allegations about Israel’s conduct and seeking international acclaim.
Filmmakers’ allegations
Israeli officials’ response
Targeting in Gaza
Filmmakers’ allegations
Yuval Abraham said Israeli intelligence sources described mass killing as systemic and designed, involving policies based on the dehumanization of Palestinians.
Israeli officials’ response
Israel denies deliberately targeting civilians, and the Israeli military says the anonymous whistleblowers’ identities and testimonies cannot be verified.
Meaning of the documentary
Filmmakers’ allegations
The filmmakers present testimony from Israeli military and intelligence sources as evidence of alleged wrongdoing in Gaza.
Israeli officials’ response
Miki Zohar accused the directors of treason and of harming Israel for international applause, while Itamar Ben-Gvir called them a disgrace.
Citizenship revocation
Filmmakers’ allegations
The directors’ film received international recognition, including a Venice prize, while they argue that their reporting exposes alleged military abuses.
Israeli officials’ response
Zohar called for their citizenship to be revoked, although such action would require the statutory ministerial and judicial process.
Key facts
- Documentary
- “NAZA” is an 80-minute film directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
- Film subject
- The documentary features 24 Israeli military or intelligence whistleblowers discussing alleged AI-powered targeting systems used in Gaza.
- Film award
- “NAZA” won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival; one account said it received a 25-minute standing ovation.
- Previous award
- Abraham and Szor won a 2025 Oscar for “No Other Land,” about Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
- Citizenship law
- Israel may revoke citizenship in cases involving failure to show loyalty, including espionage or treason; the law was expanded in 2023 to cover terrorism convictions.
- Required process
- The interior minister must submit a revocation request, the justice minister must approve it, and judges must validate it.
- Conflict figures
- The article says the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack killed 1,221 people and involved 251 hostages, while Gaza’s health ministry reports more than 73,000 deaths in Israel’s retaliatory campaign.
Quotes
Itamar Ben-Gvir
Israeli national security minister who criticised the filmmakers
“the Israeli intelligence officers we spoke with talked to us about how this mass killing is systemic: not by accident, but by design, actions of murder and policies that are based on the total dehumanisation of Palestinians”
firstpost.com
wionews.com
“I will act immediately to revoke the Israeli citizenship of these despicable creators for treason against the state.”
telegraphindia.com
firstpost.com
wionews.com
Sources
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