Israeli Culture Minister Announces Intent to Revoke Citizenship of NAZA Documentary Directors Over Alleged Treason

Culture Minister Miki Zohar declared on Sunday night via X/Twitter that he would “act immediately” to revoke the Israeli citizenship of directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor in response to their documentary NAZA, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. Zohar described the film as “vile” and accused its creators of harboring “burning self-hatred” while enabling antisemitic audiences to gain praise at the expense of Israel’s sovereignty.

“This is why I led crucial film industry reforms: to prevent Israeli citizens from funding attacks on IDF soldiers and the State of Israel through their taxpayer contributions,” Zohar stated. He emphasized his authority as Culture Minister to pursue citizenship annulment, labeling the filmmakers as “despicable” for allegedly committing treason against the nation.

The documentary titled NAZA, derived from the Israeli military acronym for “collateral damage,” features interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and officers discussing operations during the Gaza conflict. It alleges systematic mass civilian casualties resulting from military actions. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has publicly dismissed these claims, asserting that the film relies on unverified testimonies from anonymous sources whose military roles remain unconfirmed.

Following the award announcement, Abraham defended the film, asserting that Israeli politicians and journalists are actively avoiding accountability for military actions. “They attack the film without watching it, but we urge audiences in Israel, Europe, and the U.S. to view it,” he said. Abraham framed the documentary as a necessary examination of Israel’s own conduct, emphasizing its importance for domestic awareness and international advocacy to pressure governments like Germany and the U.S. to address civilian harm in Gaza.

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