Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Netanyahu Threatens NAZA Filmmakers Over Gaza Civilian Death Claims
NAZA is a documentary made by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
It says Israeli soldiers and officers sometimes planned for large numbers of civilian deaths in Gaza.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says the film unfairly portrays Israeli soldiers as war criminals.
He wants new laws that could remove citizenship from people who defame soldiers.
He also wants courts to allow much larger financial penalties in defamation cases.
The Israeli military is considering possible legal action against people connected to the film.
The filmmakers say Israelis should watch it and think about its message.
The dispute is happening before an Israeli election and during the Gaza war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed revoking citizenship for people who defame Israeli soldiers.
He also called for a 20-fold increase in statutory damages for alleged defamation.
The documentary NAZA alleges that civilian deaths were routinely incorporated into Israeli targeting decisions in Gaza.
Israeli officials and the military reject the film’s allegations, while the military is examining possible legal action.
The film won a major prize at the Venice Film Festival amid political tensions before Israel’s October 27 election.
- Who
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, and Israeli military officials are central to the dispute.
- What
- Netanyahu threatened legislation against people who defame Israeli soldiers after the documentary NAZA alleged that civilian deaths in Gaza were built into Israeli targeting decisions.
- When
- The Reuters report is dated September 16; the film won its Venice Film Festival prize on the preceding Saturday, and Israel’s election is scheduled for October 27.
- Where
- The dispute is centered in Israel and concerns Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
- Why
- Netanyahu says the proposed laws would address what he calls immense damage to Israeli soldiers; the filmmakers say the documentary is intended to make Israelis confront its account of the war.
Filmmakers and Critics of Military Conduct
Netanyahu and Israeli Military Authorities
What NAZA alleges
Filmmakers and Critics of Military Conduct
The documentary presents anonymous interviews with intelligence officers and soldiers and alleges that civilian deaths were routinely built into Israeli targeting decisions.
Netanyahu and Israeli Military Authorities
Netanyahu and the Israeli military reject the film’s allegations and say it portrays Israeli officers and soldiers as war criminals.
Legal response
Filmmakers and Critics of Military Conduct
The filmmakers say Israelis should watch the documentary and grapple with the narrative it presents.
Netanyahu and Israeli Military Authorities
Netanyahu proposed revoking citizenship for people who defame Israeli soldiers and increasing statutory defamation damages 20 times; the military is also examining potential legal action.
Political significance
Filmmakers and Critics of Military Conduct
The film has drawn attention to civilian deaths and military conduct in Gaza.
Netanyahu and Israeli Military Authorities
Netanyahu accused election rivals who did not take a tough stance against the film of being unfit for office, linking the controversy to Israel’s October 27 election.
- Documentary
- NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor
- Film’s claim
- Mass civilian deaths were routinely built into Israeli targeting decisions in Gaza, according to the documentary
- Netanyahu’s proposal
- Revoke the citizenship of anyone who defames Israeli soldiers
- Financial penalty proposal
- Increase statutory damages for defamation lawsuits by 20 times
- Military response
- The Israeli military is examining possible legal action involving people connected to the film
- Film recognition
- NAZA won a major prize at the Venice Film Festival
- Reported Gaza death toll
- Gaza health authorities say more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians
- War trigger
- The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack killed 1,200 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to Israeli tallies