Israeli minister threatens to revoke filmmakers' citizenship over Gaza documentary

Culture Minister Miki Zohar has threatened to revoke the Israeli citizenship of Oscar-winning directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor over allegations that they are guilty of treason. The documentary Naza, which accuses the Israeli army of mass civilian killings in Gaza, has come under intense scrutiny. The film outlines the AI-powered targeting systems used by the IDF in the war against Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Over 73,000 Palestinians, including more than 20,000 children, have been killed since then.

Abraham and Szor claim that the film documents the systems behind Israel's calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians. However, Zohar accuses the filmmakers of aiding the enemy during wartime and has asked the authorities to investigate the film's acquisition and publication. The Citizenship Law allows for the revocation of citizenship due to a breach of allegiance to the State of Israel, though it has rarely been applied.

The filmmakers have not yet responded to the allegations. Naza premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation but has not yet been made available to the wider public. Abraham stated that the reporting for the film was rigorous and that efforts to discredit it were attempts to avoid facing reality. The IDF initially rejected the allegations but later stated that the film presents serious and false allegations regarding the IDF and its personnel.

Over 700 members of the film industry have signed a petition in support of the filmmakers, calling it a campaign of incitement and vilification.