Israeli Culture Minister Vows to Strip Citizenship from ‘NAZA’ Directors Over Gaza Documentary

Israeli Minister of Culture Miki Zohar has announced plans to strip the nationality of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, citing their recent documentary, “NAZA.” The film, which premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, has drawn intense political backlash from Israeli officials despite receiving widespread critical acclaim.

Abraham and Szor’s documentary explores the mechanisms behind Israel’s military operations in Gaza, with its official logline describing the film as an examination of the systems responsible for the “calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians.” At Venice, the film garnered a standing ovation lasting 24.5 minutes—the longest in the event’s history—and the directors were honored with the special jury prize.

Following the awards ceremony, Abraham addressed the controversy, noting the difficulty of attending events while facing attacks from Israeli politicians and journalists who are dismissing the film without viewing it. “We believe that the denial of a crime is what helps it persist,” Abraham said. “It’s our country that is doing these crimes… that Europeans watch it, and especially here in Italy because your government and the German government are blocking pressure on Israel that can end this, that Americans watch it because that country is funding much of the killing.”

In response, Zohar posted a statement on social media condemning the filmmakers’ work as an act of treason. He described the creators as consumed by “self-loathing” and accused them of seeking international applause from antisemites at the expense of their homeland. “This constitutes a betrayal of the state,” Zohar wrote, adding that he would act immediately to revoke their Israeli citizenship.

The conflict highlights a deepening divide between Israeli cultural figures and government leadership regarding the portrayal of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.