A political storm has erupted in Israel after Culture Minister Miki Zohar threatened to pursue the revocation of citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, following the international success of their Gaza documentary NAZA.

The documentary won the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and received a reported 25-minute standing ovation at its premiere.

MINISTER ACCUSES FILMMAKERS OF TREASON

Zohar described the documentary as deeply damaging to Israel and accused its creators of acting against the country during wartime.

In a statement on X, he said he would seek to revoke the Israeli citizenship of Abraham and Szor, accusing them of treason and of seeking international approval at Israel’s expense. He has also asked officials to examine the possibility of revoking their citizenship and investigate how material used in the film was obtained.

The threat has intensified an already heated debate inside Israel over the limits of dissent, journalism and artistic expression during the Gaza war.

WHAT IS NAZA ABOUT?

The 80-minute documentary examines Israel’s military campaign in Gaza through interviews with 24 Israeli military and intelligence personnel, who spoke anonymously.

According to accounts of the film, the interviewees describe the use of artificial-intelligence and surveillance systems in the process of identifying targets in Gaza. The documentary also examines allegations that civilian casualties were anticipated during some military operations.

The Israeli military has rejected the film’s allegations, criticizing the reliance on anonymous testimonies and disputing claims that its operations deliberately target civilians.

NETANYAHU ALSO CONDEMNS THE FILM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has separately attacked NAZA, describing it as inflammatory and accusing it of contributing to antisemitism.

Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has also criticized the documentary and called for possible legal action over what officials describe as misleading or damaging claims about the Israel Defense Forces.

FILMMAKERS DEFEND THEIR WORK

Abraham and Szor have defended the documentary and the journalistic process behind it. Their film was produced after several years of investigation and relies on testimony from people with direct experience of Israeli military and intelligence operations.

The Guardian, which co-produced the documentary, has also defended the filmmakers, saying the project was based on extensive investigative journalism and verified testimonies from confidential sources. The newspaper said it would defend the film and its creators against censorship or attacks.

WIDER DEBATE OVER FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

The controversy has now moved beyond the film itself, raising questions about citizenship, political dissent and freedom of expression in Israel.

The legal process for stripping citizenship is complex and requires more than a ministerial declaration. Israeli courts have previously recognized circumstances in which citizenship can be revoked for serious acts of disloyalty, including certain forms of treason or espionage.

For the filmmakers, the dispute has placed NAZA at the centre of an international debate over how Israel’s conduct in Gaza is documented and discussed.

The film’s Venice award has given it a major international platform, while the reaction from Israeli officials has ensured that its political impact is likely to continue well beyond the film festival.