Israeli documentary 'NAZA' triggers political backlash, PM vows citizenship revocation for critics

The documentary film *NAZA*, co‑directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has become the focus of a heated debate in Israel after it won an award at the Venice Film Festival. The film presents statements from anonymous Israeli sources who allege that the Israeli military deliberately targeted and killed a large number of civilians in Gaza. The allegations, presented without publicly identified witnesses, have sparked criticism from government officials and prompted calls for legal action against the filmmakers.

In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that individuals who “defame” the Israeli army could face the revocation of their citizenship. The prime minister’s remarks underline the administration’s intent to pursue punitive measures against those perceived to be spreading false or damaging narratives about the military. The controversy highlights the tension between freedom of expression in documentary filmmaking and the Israeli government’s stance on protecting the reputation of its armed forces.