Netanyahu Proposes Stripping Citizenship from Israelis Defaming IDF Abroad

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday his intention to introduce two legislative proposals aimed at penalizing Israelis who "defame IDF soldiers" abroad. The move comes amid a controversy surrounding the documentary "NAZA." Netanyahu stated in a video that the first bill would allow for the revocation of Israeli citizenship for individuals found guilty of such actions. The second bill would increase the amount of damages they could be liable for in legal proceedings.

Netanyahu specifically named Yaïr Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, former military prosecutor Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, and "NAZA" directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, stating "Their place is not here." He called on all Zionist parties to support these measures.

The announcement follows significant controversy in Israel over the documentary "NAZA," which recently received an award at the Venice Film Festival. The film alleges that the IDF used artificial intelligence-assisted systems in strikes in Gaza that resulted in civilian deaths. The Israeli military has denied these accusations and requested access to the full documentary to provide a precise response.

According to Israeli Channel N12, Israeli authorities reportedly decided to scale back their public statements about the film, believing that the intense domestic reaction was amplifying its international reach. An IDF official involved in responding to the documentary told the channel that the debate had shifted from the film's content to accusations concerning freedom of expression in Israel. Israeli diplomats interviewed by N12 also suggested that the government's reaction was fueling the domestic debate about the documentary during an election campaign, prior to Netanyahu's video announcement.