Israeli minister threatens citizenship action against NAZA directors
Miki Zohar has accused Oscar-winning film-makers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of treason over their Gaza documentary, which recently won a special jury prize at Venice.
Israel’s culture minister, Miki Zohar, has called for film-makers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor to be stripped of their Israeli citizenship over their documentary NAZA, accusing them of “treason against the state”. Zohar said on X that he would act “immediately”, though no revocation had been reported.
The film, produced by The Guardian, examines alleged Israeli military and intelligence targeting practices in Gaza through interviews with 24 alleged whistleblowers. The Israeli military has rejected NAZA’s allegations and questioned whether the anonymous sources’ identities can be verified.
NAZA won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival, where it reportedly received a record 25-minute standing ovation. Abraham and Szor previously won the 2025 Oscar for No Other Land, their documentary about Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
Other Israeli ministers also criticised the directors, including far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Abraham’s family home was targeted by a rightwing mob after No Other Land’s 2024 premiere.
Citizenship revocation is legally possible in Israel but rare. The Supreme Court confirmed in 2022 that nationality may be revoked for failures of loyalty, including espionage or treason; the law was expanded in 2023 to cover terrorism convictions. Any request requires ministerial approval and judicial validation.
