Israeli Minister calls to strip Gaza documentary directors of citizenship over Venice award-winning film

Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar called for the state to strip award-winning Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of their citizenship on Sunday, accusing them of "treason against the state" following the Venice Film Festival premiere of their investigative documentary NAZA.

Why is the Israeli government targeting directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor?

The public outrage from Israeli government officials centers on NAZA, an 80-minute documentary co-produced by The Guardian that premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Special Jury Prize. The documentary features anonymous testimonies from 24 Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers detailing operational mechanisms, including AI-assisted targeting systems, utilized during military operations in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement published on social platform X, Culture Minister Miki Zohar condemned the film as "vile" and accused the directors of seeking international applause while harming their homeland. "I will act immediately to revoke the Israeli citizenship of these despicable creators for treason against the state," Zohar stated. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir echoed the sentiment, calling the filmmakers a "disgrace and an embarrassment" and suggesting they be welcomed by Hamas in Gaza.

How have the filmmakers and the IDF responded to the controversy?

Under Israeli law, revoking nationality is legally permissible under citizenship statutes updated in 2022 and 2023 for individuals accused of breach of loyalty, espionage, or terrorism. However, the procedure requires a formal request submitted by the Interior Minister, approval from the Justice Minister, and final validation by a district court judge.

In response to the political backlash, director Yuval Abraham—who previously won an Academy Award in 2025 for No Other Land—defended the project, stating that the intelligence officers interviewed described a "systemic mass killing" based on calculated military policy rather than accidental collateral damage.

Conversely, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson's Unit rejected the claims, telling The Jerusalem Post that the film relies on unverified anonymous testimonies and maintaining that all strike approvals in Gaza are determined by human personnel in compliance with military guidelines.