Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor at the closing ceremony of the Venice International Film Festival in Italy, where their film Naza received the Special Jury Prize, September 12, 2026. (Credit: Yara Nardi/Reuters)
An Israeli minister announced on Sunday that he wants to strip the filmmakers of the documentary "NAZA," which gives a voice to soldiers accusing the army of killing many civilians in Gaza, of their citizenship, accusing them of "treason against the state."
“I will act immediately to revoke the Israeli citizenship” of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, whose documentary won a special prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, Culture Minister Miki Zohar declared on X. The minister accused the filmmakers of wanting to “harm their homeland in order to receive applause from anti-Semites around the world,” which, he added, constitutes “treason against the state.”
Other ministers on Sunday evening attacked the filmmakers, two investigative journalists who had previously collaborated on the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land" (2024), about the violence perpetrated by authorities and settlers in the occupied West Bank. "You are a disgrace and an embarrassment to the entire people of Israel. Get out!" National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared on X. "I am certain that your friends, namely our enemies Hamas in Gaza, will welcome you with open arms," the far-right minister continued.
Deprivation of citizenship is legally possible in Israel, although rarely applied. In 2022, the Supreme Court upheld the state's ability to strip citizenship from individuals deemed disloyal, such as those who have committed acts of espionage or treason. The law was further broadened in 2023 to include individuals convicted of terrorism. In practice, the process requires a request from the Minister of the Interior, approval from the Minister of Justice, and validation by judges.
The documentary "NAZA" is based on the anonymous testimonies of 24 members of the Israeli army and intelligence services who reveal how Israeli forces kill numerous civilians in their war against Hamas in Gaza. In the 80-minute documentary, the interviewees describe how various technological systems, including artificial intelligence, have enabled the Israeli army to locate suspected Hamas members and their families via their phones, and then indiscriminately strike them in their homes. According to the documentary, "NAZA" is an acronym used within the Israeli army to refer to the estimated number of civilians killed in a strike. One of the interviewees explains that the military has access to a tool that allows them to determine, for each residence in Gaza, how many people are present and will therefore be affected in the event of a bombing.
After the film's preview screening in Venice, where it received a 25-minute standing ovation, the Israeli army defended itself by "categorically" rejecting accusations that it was mass-killing civilians in Gaza.
Launched in retaliation for the deadly attacks perpetrated by Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023, the war waged by Israel in Gaza has resulted in more than 73,000 deaths, according to the enclave's Ministry of Health.
Oil prices are rising sharply, above $100