Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday his intention to pursue new legislative measures that would enable Israel to revoke citizenship from individuals who disparage Israeli Defense Forces personnel. His announcement came amid an escalating campaign of pressure against the filmmakers behind NAZA, an 80-minute documentary that examines civilian casualties in Gaza. The film, produced in collaboration with the Guardian and based on investigative reporting from outlets including +972 Magazine and Local Call, won the special jury prize at this year’s Venice film festival on Saturday, earning a 25-minute standing ovation described as a festival record.
The documentary’s directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, have faced significant backlash from Israeli government officials and far-right activists following the film’s premiere. Culture Minister Miki Zohar called for the revocation of their citizenship and accused them of “treason against the state.” Netanyahu outlined two proposed bills addressing defamation: one would increase maximum damages in defamation cases to 1 million shekels without requiring proof of harm, while the second would stipulate citizenship revocation for those who defame IDF soldiers or the state internationally. Military leadership has also responded, with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stating the military would utilize “every tool at our disposal” against the film and announcing an internal leak investigation in coordination with Israel’s domestic security agency.
The pressure on the filmmakers has extended beyond official channels. Dozens of far-right activists gathered outside the residence of Szor’s family on Wednesday evening, with some participants linked to the Otzma Yehudit party. Messages circulated among activist groups contained explicit calls for violence. Additional threats have emerged from right-wing journalists, influencers and activists who have called for the filmmakers to be “pursued” or prevented from returning to Israel. Social media posts have included photographs of family members and requests for information about travel schedules. A mural depicting the directors with crosshairs and hateful imagery appeared in Ashdod and was shared widely online.
In response to the campaign against the filmmakers, 43 Israeli human rights organizations signed a joint statement urging authorities to cease what they characterized as incitement and threats. Over 1,500 Israeli filmmakers have also signed a petition defending creative freedom and expressing solidarity with Abraham and Szor. The groups cited concerns that the institutional response represents tactics characteristic of authoritarian regimes, with rhetoric increasingly approaching threats of physical violence.
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