JERUSALEM: Israeli politicians and public figures sharply clashed on Monday over NAZA, a Gaza war documentary by filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, after it won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The film relies on interviews with 24 Israelis presented as soldiers and intelligence personnel and alleges that Israeli targeting practices caused systematic mass civilian casualties in Gaza. However, the Israel Defense Forces rejected the documentary’s central claims, saying its anonymous testimonies could not be independently verified.
The controversy intensified after Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar said he would seek to revoke the filmmakers’ Israeli citizenship, accusing them of treason.
Right-Wing Politicians Accuse Filmmakers of Defaming Israel
Former Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv accused Abraham and Szor of fabricating allegations and criticised Israeli military leaders for not responding more aggressively.
Meanwhile, Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman said the filmmakers had transformed the war into a campaign of defamation against Israel and the IDF.
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot also condemned the documentary, arguing that it presented a distorted and one-sided picture of the war.
Additionally, activist Yoseph Haddad accused the filmmakers of using criticism of Israel to gain international recognition.
Opposition Lawmaker Condemns Citizenship Revocation Proposal
Democrats MK Naama Lazimi, however, attacked Zohar’s proposal rather than the film itself.
She described the suggestion to revoke the directors’ citizenship as extreme and accused the government of damaging Israel’s security, international standing and public confidence.
The dispute has therefore widened beyond the documentary’s allegations into a broader political argument over criticism of the military, freedom of expression and the limits of government action against Israeli filmmakers.
The IDF continues to reject NAZA’s allegations, while its creators have received growing international attention following the Venice award.
