Citizenship Revocation Threat
Israeli Minister Seeks Citizenship Revocation for Directors of Gaza Documentary
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Key Points
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The filmmakers previously won the 2025 Oscar for “No Other Land,” a documentary about Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
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Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that citizenship can be revoked for a failure to demonstrate loyalty, including espionage or treason; a 2023 amendment extended the provision to people convicted of terrorism.
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Zohar tied the controversy to a proposed overhaul of public funding for Israeli cinema, arguing that taxpayers should not be required to finance films he views as attacks on the IDF or the state.
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Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, also condemned the filmmakers, calling them “enemies of Israel” and describing the documentary as a slanderous account of the country.
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The documentary’s title, “NAZA,” refers to an IDF term for collateral damage, according to the filmmakers’ description of the film.
Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar called for revoking the citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor after their documentary "NAZA" won the Special Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival. Variety reported that Zohar accused the directors of treason for the film, which alleges that Israeli AI systems enabled widespread civilian deaths in Gaza. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also condemned the filmmakers.
The documentary features interviews with 24 unnamed people presented as Israeli military or intelligence personnel. It alleges these systems and strike approvals caused extensive civilian harm. The Israel Defense Forces rejected the allegations and questioned the credibility of the anonymous sources. Variety noted that Zohar cannot unilaterally revoke citizenship—Israeli law requires approval from the interior minister, justice minister, and judicial validation.
Award-Winning Directors Face Political Backlash
Abraham and Szor previously won the 2025 Oscar for another documentary, "No Other Land," about Israeli settler violence in the West Bank. Their latest film, "NAZA"—an acronym for an Israeli Defense Forces term for collateral damage—premiered at Venice to critical acclaim. Variety reported that the timing triggered fierce condemnation from Israeli officials and debate over state funding for cinema.
Zohar Ties Citizenship Fight to Film Funding Overhaul
The culture minister framed the citizenship threat as part of a broader push to control public financing for Israeli cinema. Variety reported that Zohar argued taxpayers should not fund films he views as attacks on the IDF or the state. His push reflects a wider effort by right-wing officials to reshape cultural institutions and messaging around the Gaza conflict.
Legal Barriers Stand Against Citizenship Revocation
Israeli law sets a high bar for stripping citizenship. Variety explained that the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that citizenship can be revoked for failing to show loyalty, including in cases of espionage or treason. A 2023 amendment extended this to people convicted of terrorism. However, such revocations remain extremely rare, and the process requires multiple layers of approval.
Other Far-Right Politicians Pile On Condemnation
Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beytenu party, also attacked the filmmakers. Middle East Eye reported that Liberman called them "enemies of Israel" and described the documentary as a slanderous attack on the country. His rhetoric echoed broader efforts by hardline politicians to delegitimize criticism of military conduct in Gaza.
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