Full Breakdown
NAZA Documentary Triggers Israeli Citizenship Revocation Threat
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar announced on X that he will move to revoke the Israeli citizenship of documentary co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. The threat follows the film “NAZA” winning the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. Zohar called the documentary “vile” and said its creators’ actions constitute “treason against the state.”
Background & Context
“NAZA” (80 minutes) presents anonymised testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence insiders who describe AI-assisted targeting systems used in Gaza. The title is a Hebrew military acronym for “collateral damage,” indicating the number of civilians expected to be killed in an airstrike. The film builds on reporting by +972 Magazine, Local Call and The Guardian, and follows Abraham and Szor’s Oscar-winning 2025 documentary “No Other Land.”
The Gaza war began after the Hamas-led attack on October 7 2023, which killed 1,221 people in Israel (AFP tally). Since then, the Gaza health ministry has reported more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths, the majority civilians.
Timeline
- October 7 2023 – Hamas attack on Israel.
- 2023-2025 – Reporting that forms the basis of “NAZA.”
- September 10 2026 – World premiere of “NAZA” at Venice.
- September 12 2026 – Film receives the Special Jury Prize.
- September 13 2026 – Zohar posts on X promising to act immediately.
- September 14 2026 – Zohar reiterates the revocation plan in a formal statement.
- September 23 2026 – Planned screening at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
- September 26 2026 – Planned screening at the New York Film Festival.
Official Statements & Responses
Minister Zohar said the filmmakers’ “self-loathing” amounts to betrayal and that he will “act immediately” to initiate revocation. Israeli law requires the interior minister to submit a revocation request, the justice minister’s approval, and judicial validation; Zohar does not hold unilateral authority.
The Israel Defense Forces rejected the documentary’s allegations, arguing that the anonymous testimonies cannot be independently verified and that strategic decisions described in the film lie beyond the knowledge of junior personnel. The IDF emphasized that target selection and strike approval are performed by human operators, not autonomous AI.
Criticism & Opposition
- Itamar Ben-Gvir, National Security Minister, called the directors “a disgrace and an embarrassment.”
- Tally Gotliv, Likud MK, accused the film of fabricating claims.
- Avigdor Liberman, Yisrael Beytenu chairman, described it as a “campaign of defamation.”
- Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF chief of staff, condemned the film as “morally damaging.”
- Naama Lazimi, Democratic MK, denounced Zohar’s revocation proposal as “madness.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The film alleges that Israeli officials approved strikes expected to kill up to 500 civilians to eliminate a single Hamas target. The IDF called this claim “completely false” and said no such approval ever occurred. Independent verification of the interviewees’ identities and ranks remains unavailable, leaving a factual gap between the documentary’s assertions and the military’s rebuttal.
What’s Next
Zohar’s request must be forwarded to the Population and Immigration Authority, reviewed by the interior minister, approved by the justice minister, and validated by a court. The legal process could extend beyond the upcoming festival screenings in September. Meanwhile, “NAZA” is slated for additional festival showings on September 23 in Spain and September 26 in New York, with a broader theatrical release still unannounced.