Israeli groups oppose calls to revoke NAZA directors citizenship

43 Israeli human rights groups and NGOs have backed Oscar-winning NAZA filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor amid threats against them and calls to revoke their citizenship.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the organisations called on Israeli authorities to stop the threats and reject calls to revoke the filmmakers’ citizenship or prosecute them and their sources, amid fierce backlash from Israeli politicians following the documentary’s Special Jury Award win at the Venice Film Festival.

“The institutional response to the film and the threats against its creators are characteristic of dictatorial regimes,” the statement said.

“Citizenship is not a prize granted by the regime or the government, but a fundamental right belonging to each and every one of us,” it added.

The statement came after Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar described the film as “horrifying” and an “act of treason against the state”.

Zohar said in a post on X over the weekend that he would take immediate action to revoke the citizenship of NAZA’s creators.

The groups stressed that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are fundamental to democracy, warning that persecution and attempts to silence dissent can extend beyond an individual or a single issue.

The statement acknowledged that most representatives of the organisations had not seen the film, as it has yet to receive a full release.

However, it said the allegations at the heart of the controversy surrounding NAZA warranted an investigation.

It also highlighted the escalating death toll in Gaza, calling for the allegations raised in the film to be thoroughly investigated and for independent journalists to be granted access to report from the devastated territory.

The latest statement follows a separate petition signed by more than 1,000 Israeli filmmakers in support of the NAZA directors amid pro-Israelbacklash over the film’s claims.

The petition said: “We filmmakers and creators call on everyone who is still fighting for freedom of expression and artistic freedom to join us in expressing support and solidarity with Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, the creators of the film NAZA.”

The filmmakers also warned that the continuing backlash and hostility could threaten the physical safety of the directors, as they stressed the importance of independent journalism in Israel.

“The central role of art and journalism is to hold up a mirror to the society in which they exist and to generate discourse and debate without giving anyone a pass, even when the reality is difficult.”

**What is NAZA about? **

NAZA is based on testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence personnel, most of whom spoke anonymously, and examines systems and practices used during Israel’s war in Gaza.

The filmmakers say the documentary builds on investigations previously published by +972 Magazine, Local Call and The Guardian.

The film takes its name from a military acronym reportedly used to indicate the number of civilians expected to be killed in an airstrike on Gaza.

After receiving a historic 25-minute standing ovation, the 80-minute documentary won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.