Israeli Culture Minister Seeks Citizenship Revocation for Gaza Film Creators

Israeli Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar has requested the Interior Ministry to examine the possibility of revoking the Israeli citizenship of the creators of the documentary "NezA" (Accidental Damage). Zohar asked officials to investigate whether the acquisition or dissemination of materials for the film constituted treason or aiding an enemy during wartime. He stated that freedom of expression cannot shield acts of treason or aiding an enemy, and if creators crossed that line, 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 faith" with the state.

The film, which won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival and received over 24 minutes of applause, has sparked significant controversy in Israel. "The Guardian," a co-producer, reported on Zohar's threat, noting the unusual nature of the move and its legal limitations. International outlets like Variety, Deadline, and TheWrap also covered the story, highlighting the film's Venice success alongside the controversy.

In parallel, the Israeli Film Council announced an urgent meeting to re-evaluate the scoring system for Israeli films at international festivals. While affirming commitment to freedom of expression, the council deemed "NezA" to have crossed a "red line" by allegedly severely defaming IDF soldiers and criticized its reliance on anonymous interviewees.

The controversy intensified after the IDF released a detailed response refuting the film's claims, which are based on testimonies from 24 soldiers and intelligence personnel. The military questioned the verifiability of interviewees' identities and service, and stated that some information presented was beyond the access level of individuals in the described roles.

Former IDF Chief of Staff and current MK Gadi Eisenkot also criticized the filmmakers, calling their portrayal a "moral blindness" and a "severe slander" against soldiers defending Israel. He distinguished between legitimate criticism and damaging the reputation of soldiers for international acclaim. Yuval Abraham, one of the film's directors, urged critics to watch the movie first, emphasizing the importance of the soldiers' testimonies and expressing intent to distribute the film widely in Israel.