An explosive new documentary featuring testimony from Israeli military insiders has triggered a fierce political backlash in Israel, with Culture Minister Miki Zohar calling for action to strip the Israeli citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
The controversy erupted after their documentary NAZA, which examines Israel’s military operations in Gaza through testimony from 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers, received the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival.
According to reports from multiple international news organizations, Zohar accused the filmmakers of betraying their country and argued that they had damaged Israel’s image internationally. The minister’s call has intensified an already bitter debate over artistic freedom, criticism of the Israeli military and the limits of political dissent during wartime.
What Is NAZA About?
The documentary was directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who previously worked on the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.
NAZA features anonymous accounts from 24 Israeli military and intelligence insiders. The sources describe military surveillance and targeting operations during the war in Gaza, including allegations involving AI-assisted systems used to identify potential targets.
The filmmakers say the documentary focuses on the systems, policies and decision-making processes behind Israel’s military campaign rather than isolated incidents involving individual soldiers. The identities of the interviewees were concealed because of concerns about potential repercussions for speaking publicly.
The documentary’s title reportedly refers to an Israeli military acronym associated with estimating expected civilian casualties during attacks.
The film was produced with the involvement of The Guardian and builds on previous investigations published by +972 Magazine, Local Call and The Guardian concerning Israeli military intelligence and targeting practices.
Israel Rejects Allegations Raised in the Film
The allegations presented in NAZA have been strongly disputed by Israeli authorities and the military.
Israel has acknowledged using artificial intelligence and advanced technology to assist military operations and identify potential targets. However, Israeli military officials have maintained that human personnel remain responsible for decisions to launch strikes.
Israel also argues that Hamas operates within densely populated civilian areas and says the militant group bears significant responsibility for civilian casualties.
The disagreement over the documentary has therefore become part of a much larger international dispute over how Israel’s war in Gaza has been conducted.
Why the Citizenship Threat Is Causing Alarm
Zohar’s call to revoke the filmmakers’ citizenship has raised questions about whether such a move could legally proceed.
Reports indicate that Israeli citizenship can be revoked under limited circumstances involving allegations such as disloyalty, espionage, treason or terrorism, but the process would require additional government and judicial procedures.
That means the culture minister cannot simply remove the filmmakers’ citizenship on his own. Any effort to do so would face further legal and political scrutiny.
The controversy also comes amid growing tension between Israel’s government and parts of the country’s film industry.
Zohar has previously criticized Israeli filmmakers and films that he believes portray the country or the Israeli military negatively. Earlier this year, he also drew controversy over comments concerning Gaza and threats involving government support for the film industry.
From Oscar Glory to Political Backlash
Abraham and Szor are already internationally known for their involvement in No Other Land, the documentary that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025.
That earlier film documented Palestinian communities facing displacement and demolition in the occupied West Bank and also generated sharp political criticism in Israel.
Now, with NAZA winning recognition at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, the filmmakers have again found themselves at the center of an international political storm.
The Gaza War Remains at the Center of the Global Debate
The documentary arrives as the human cost of the Gaza war continues to dominate international discussion.
The war began after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage, according to widely reported figures.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its overall death toll, while Israel disputes allegations that its military deliberately targets civilians.
Human rights groups, international organizations and governments remain deeply divided over how to characterize Israel’s military campaign, while Israel continues to reject accusations of genocide and other allegations of systematic wrongdoing.
A Film Award Has Now Become a Political Firestorm
What began as a documentary premiere in Venice has rapidly evolved into a major political controversy in Israel.
For supporters of the filmmakers, NAZA represents an attempt to confront difficult questions through insider testimony and investigative filmmaking.
For their critics, the documentary is an attack on Israel during one of the most difficult periods in the country’s history.
But the biggest question may now be what happens next.
Will Miki Zohar’s demand to strip Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of their citizenship remain political rhetoric—or could the filmmakers who brought Israel’s Gaza war to the Venice stage soon face an unprecedented legal battle at home?
As the controversy grows, NAZA is no longer just competing for attention as a documentary.
It has become a new front in the battle over Gaza, free speech, filmmaking and the future of political dissent inside Israel.
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