Israeli Culture Minister Demands Citizenship Review for Gaza Film Directors

Israeli Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar has requested the Ministry of Interior investigate the possibility of revoking the citizenship of Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, the directors of the film "Naza." Zohar contacted the Director-General of the Ministry of Interior, Israel Ozana, demanding a probe into the sources of testimonies and materials used in the film, suggesting potential state treason. "Freedom of expression cannot serve as a cover for actions tantamount to treason or aiding the enemy during wartime," Zohar stated, adding that if the filmmakers crossed that line, "the State of Israel must take measures to revoke their citizenship." However, the Minister of Culture does not have the authority to revoke citizenship; this power rests with the courts, typically following charges of treason or espionage. Zohar's statement does not initiate a legal process or prove guilt.

The controversy has drawn international attention, with The Guardian, a co-producer of the film, reporting that the Israeli minister "threatens to strip citizenship" from the Gaza film's authors, calling it an overreach. Variety, Deadline, and TheWrap also covered the scandal, which has been reported in Brazil, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

Concurrently, the Israeli Film Council is convening an urgent meeting to re-evaluate its assessments of foreign film festivals that feature Israeli content. While supporting creative freedom and diverse opinions, the council believes "Naza" crosses a "red line" and constitutes "serious slander against IDF soldiers."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a detailed rebuttal to the film's claims, which were based on testimonies from 24 intelligence soldiers and officers who served in Gaza. The IDF stated that the identities of those interviewed could not be verified, nor could their service records or positions, and that some topics discussed were beyond the security clearance of individuals with the alleged roles. Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yishai party, also criticized the film, calling the filmmakers' decision to present a "distorted and one-sided picture" and assign moral blame to soldiers a form of "moral blindness" and an attack on Israel during a difficult time.

Filmmaker Yuval Abraham urged critics to watch the film before judging it, stating that the testimonies of soldiers and officers featured are more important than any award. The film team intends to pursue a wide release of the documentary within Israel.