Israeli Culture Minister Seeks Citizenship Revocation for Gaza Film Creators

Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar has requested the Interior Ministry to examine revoking the citizenship of the creators of the documentary film "Nez'a" (Accidental Damage). Zohar asked Interior Ministry Director General Israel Oz to investigate whether the acquisition or dissemination of materials for the film constituted treason or aiding an enemy during wartime. "Freedom of expression cannot serve as a cover for acts of treason or aiding an enemy during wartime," Zohar stated, adding that "if it turns out the film's creators crossed that line, the State of Israel must act to revoke their citizenship." However, the authority to revoke citizenship rests with the courts, not the Culture Minister, requiring a legal process for "breach of loyalty to the State of Israel."

The film, which won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival and reportedly received over 24 minutes of applause, has drawn significant international attention. Major outlets like The Guardian, Variety, Deadline, and TheWrap have covered Zohar's demand, noting its unusual nature and the fact that its execution is beyond his authority. The film, a collaboration with The Guardian, presents difficult claims about the IDF's conduct in Gaza, including targeting and civilian harm, based on testimonies from 24 soldiers and intelligence personnel.

In parallel, the Israeli Film Council announced an urgent meeting to re-evaluate the scoring system for Israeli film festivals abroad following the controversy. While affirming commitment to freedom of expression, the council deemed "Nez'a" to have crossed a "red line" and constituted "severe defamation of IDF soldiers," also criticizing the film's reliance on anonymous interviewees.

The IDF issued a detailed response, refuting the film's claims and questioning the verifiability of the interviewees' identities and service records. They argued that some testimonies concerned matters beyond the access of individuals at the described ranks. Former IDF Chief of Staff and current MK Gadi Eisenkot also criticized the filmmakers, calling their actions "moral blindness" and a "harm to the State of Israel" during a difficult time, distinguishing between legitimate criticism and defaming soldiers for international acclaim.

Filmmaker Yuval Abraham urged critics to watch the film before condemning it, stating, "The most important thing for me is the testimonies of the soldiers and officers speaking in the film." The creators intend to pursue wider distribution of the film within Israel.