Israeli Minister Vows to Revoke Citizenship for ‘NAZA’ Filmmakers After Venice Prize Win

Following the success of the documentary “NAZA” at the Venice International Film Festival, Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar announced plans to revoke the citizenship of its creators, accusing them of betraying the state. The film, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, secured the Special Jury Prize over the weekend.

The 80-minute documentary features interviews with 24 individuals identified as Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers. These sources allege the use of AI-powered targeting systems in Gaza that were responsible for the deaths of Palestinian civilians. According to Abraham, the intelligence officers interviewed described the killings as “systemic” and intentional, rooted in a policy of dehumanization.

Minister Zohar condemned the film’s recognition at the festival as “shocking.” In a Sunday social media post, he characterized the directors’ actions as driven by “self-loathing,” stating they were willing to harm their homeland to gain applause from anti-Semites abroad. He vowed to act immediately to strip both filmmakers of their Israeli nationality.

On Monday, Zohar posted that he had contacted the Directors General of the Population Authority and the Ministry of Interior. He requested an examination of whether the filmmakers’ citizenship should be denied due to a breach of trust and cooperation with the enemy, as well as an investigation into how the materials were obtained and whether their publication assisted adversaries during wartime.

While the Interior Ministry has not yet responded, other Israeli officials have publicly criticized the directors. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the filmmakers a “disgrace” and an “embarrassment,” adding that Hamas would likely welcome them with open arms.

The IDF criticized the documentary on Friday, noting that the identities of the whistleblowers cannot be verified and reiterating that there was no deliberate targeting of civilians. Despite this, critics such as The Hollywood Reporter described the film as inspiring profound disgust for the current Israeli regime, while Screen magazine labeled it an “urgent, gut-punch” experience.

Abraham and Szor previously won an Oscar in 2025 for their documentary “No Other Land,” which addressed Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank.