Israel’s Culture Minister Miki Zohar has labeled the Venice‑awarded documentary ‘NAZA’ as treason and warned that filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor could lose their Israeli citizenship. The move has sparked fierce backlash from the global film community and human‑rights advocates.

  • Minister Miki Zohar called the film ‘treason against the state.’
  • Filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor face possible revocation of Israeli citizenship.
  • ‘NAZA’ won the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.

Incident Overview

Israel’s Culture Minister Miki Zohar announced on X that the documentary ‘NAZA,’ which received the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, constitutes “treason against the state.” He warned that he would pursue the revocation of citizenship for its directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

About the Documentary ‘NAZA’

‘NAZA’ (80 minutes) features testimony from 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence insiders. The film alleges that Israel’s targeting system in Gaza relies on artificial intelligence, extensive telecommunications data, and, at times, authorises strikes that could kill hundreds of civilians to eliminate a single Hamas operative.

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Government Reaction

Zohar’s post described the film as “a betrayal of the nation.” Far‑right National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett echoed the condemnation, calling the work a “blood libel.” The Israeli Defence Forces dismissed the documentary’s claims, noting that the sources could not be independently verified and that strike decisions are made by human personnel, not AI.

Legal Framework for Citizenship Revocation

Israeli law permits revocation of citizenship only in cases of disloyalty, espionage, or treason, and the procedure requires approval from multiple government bodies and judicial review. The power has been exercised extremely rarely.

Filmmakers’ Previous Accolades

Abraham and Szor previously co‑directed the Oscar‑winning documentary ‘No Other Land,’ which secured the 2025 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Their reputation for tackling the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict has now placed them at the centre of a political storm.

Historical Background

State pressure on Israeli filmmakers is not new. Since the 1970s, the “Cinema Censorship Act” has been used to block politically sensitive works. The early 2000s saw a resurgence of “New Israeli Cinema,” which often challenged official narratives. ‘NAZA’ continues this tradition of confrontational documentary filmmaking, now meeting unprecedented governmental retaliation.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the minister’s threat could chill artistic expression across Israel, undermine the country’s democratic image abroad, and intensify international scrutiny of Israel’s handling of dissent.

“If the state proceeds with revoking citizenship, it raises profound concerns about the erosion of democratic safeguards in Israel.” – Dr. Emily Levin, Human Rights Scholar
Did You Know?: ‘NAZA’ was the only documentary in competition for the Golden Lion at Venice this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What legal steps are required to revoke Israeli citizenship?

Answer: The process involves a recommendation from the Ministry of Interior, approval by the Cabinet, and a final ruling by the Supreme Court, and it has been used only in a handful of cases.

Question 2: How has the international film community responded to ‘NAZA’?

Answer: Numerous festivals and filmmaker associations have praised the documentary’s bravery, calling for protection of artistic freedom, while some governments have warned against punitive actions.