Culture Minister calls to revoke citizenships of NAZA creators for 'act of treason' against Israel

Abraham and Szor’s film, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday, takes its title from the Israeli military acronym for “collateral damage."

Culture Minister Miki Zohar said he would "act immediately" to revoke the citizenship of Israeli directors and journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor over their documentary NAZA in a post on X/Twitter on Sunday night. 

"The Venice Film Festival win for the vile film NAZA is horrifying," Zohar wrote. "The burning self-hatred of the creators, who are willing to harm their homeland to garner applause from antisemites worldwide, is inconceivable and constitutes an act of treason against the state."

"This is precisely why I spearheaded the important film industry reform: so that Israeli citizens would no longer have to pay out of their own pockets for attacks on IDF soldiers and the State of Israel."

"As Culture Minister, I will act immediately to revoke the Israeli citizenship of these despicable creators for treason against the state," he concluded.

Abraham and Szor’s film, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday, takes its title from the Israeli military acronym for “collateral damage."

It is based on interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and officers who, the filmmakers say, were involved in planning and operating systems used during the war in Gaza, alleging that Israel’s military operations have resulted in systematic mass civilian casualties.

Israel has rejected the allegations.

On Friday, the IDF categorically rejected the claims raised in the documentary, saying the film relied on anonymous testimonies from individuals whose identities and military roles could not be verified.

NAZA received a lengthy standing ovation following its premiere screening on Thursday, with reports saying applause lasted 24 and a half minutes. It is the second consecutive year that a film focused on the Gaza war has drawn major attention at Venice, following The Voice of Hind Rajab, which tells the story of the killing of a Palestinian child during the conflict.

Abraham claimed Israeli politicians, journalists 'ask us to not look at reality'

Speaking after the award announcement, Abraham thanked the jury and addressed criticism of the film in Israel.

“I’m thinking of all the people, the Israeli politicians and journalists back home, who are now attacking this film, and denying it without even seeing it,” Abraham said. “And so much is being done to ask us to not look at reality.”

Abraham called on audiences in Israel, Europe, and the United States to watch the film, saying it was particularly important for Israelis because “it’s our country that is doing these crimes.”

“It’s really important that Europeans watch it, especially here in Italy, because your government and the German government are blocking pressure on Israel that can end this,” Abraham said, adding that it is also important “that Americans watch it, because that country is funding much of the killing.”

Jerusalem Post Staff and Reuters contributed to this report.