In the wake of the backlash following the screening of NAZA, Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he is pushing for new legislation that would allow the Israeli government to revoke the citizenship of individuals who “smear” Israeli soldiers. It’s a direct escalation in the campaign against Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the filmmakers behind the documentary. Per The Guardian, the directors have been facing threats from senior government officials and far-right activists. The 80-minute documentary, which focuses on the mass killing of civilians in Gaza, recently won the special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film received a record-setting 25-minute standing ovation. According to The Washington Post, the film was shot in extreme secrecy over three years and features testimony from 24 military insiders who allege that the Israeli military uses artificial intelligence to identify targets while knowing that many civilians will likely be killed in the process. The backlash within Israel has been severe. Netanyahu himself has been vocal about his disdain for the project, claiming that it portrays the Israel Defense Forces as war criminals. In a video posted by the prime minister, he reportedly confronted an old clip of Abraham and declared, “The same director who produced that terrible film that slanders IDF soldiers.” All eyes on the controversy The Prime Minister isn’t the first lawmaker to criticize the movie. The Guardian noted that the culture minister, Miki Zohar, recently accused the directors of “treason against the state” and called for their citizenship to be revoked. Zohar expressed his support for the prime minister’s new legislative push, stating it was “time to put an end to this disgrace.” Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Gaza war documentary NAZA as antisemitic incitement, after it won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and received a 25-minute standing ovation https://t.co/67WQSkrh2l pic.twitter.com/9SXMRl2uix— Reuters (@Reuters) September 15, 2026 The outlet noted that Netanyahu’s proposed legislation includes two bills. The first, submitted through the justice ministry, would double the potential defamation claim to 1 million shekels ($3,29,000) without the need to prove damage. The second, handled by the Interior Ministry, would allow for the revocation of citizenship for anyone deemed to be defaming the state or its soldiers abroad. “We will revoke citizenship for anyone who defames IDF soldiers around the world – he will be deeply hurt in his pocket,’’ Netanyahu said. The situation on the ground has become increasingly dangerous for the filmmakers. On Wednesday evening, dozens of right-wing activists linked to the Otzma Yehudit party of Itamar Ben-Gvir gathered outside the home of Rachel Szor’s parents. Some of these groups circulated messages that included explicit calls for violence. One protester at the scene demanded the “death penalty for traitors” and suggested that the homes of the filmmakers’ families should be demolished. In a video posted on his social media, Netanyahu called for the stripping of citizenship from those who "defame" the Israeli army.His comments reflect anger from Israeli officials over the film NAZA, which featured soldiers testifying to the commission of war crimes in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/iYu0TiGCxe— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) September 17, 2026 The Jerusalem Post reported that Channel 14 journalist Yehuda Schlesinger suggested the directors should be “pursued” or “hunted” and prevented from returning to Israel. Furthermore, a mural appeared in Ashdod that depicted Abraham and Szor with crosshairs, horns, and swastikas, labeling them as “traitors.” The original mural was painted over by a local artist who changed the word “traitors” to “heroes.” However, the initial display highlights the hostility the pair is facing. Abraham, in an interview with Israel’s Channel 13, reportedly admitted, “Of course it’s hard … [Israel] is my home, it’s the only place I want to live, a place that is important to me. So of course I’m afraid I won’t be able to return.” Despite the intense pressure, there is a significant movement of support emerging from the artistic and human rights communities. According to the Jerusalem Post, a group of 43 local human rights organizations, including B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence, issued a joint statement condemning the government’s reaction. Israeli uproar over the film ‘NAZA’ has reached new heights, as dozens of Israelis protested outside the filmmaker’s family home chanting ‘death to traitors’.Al Jazeera’s Marah Rayan brings you the latest. pic.twitter.com/4LBWq1V7kK— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 17, 2026 “The institutional response to the film and the threats against its creators are characteristic of dictatorial regimes,” the statement noted. They emphasized that citizenship is a fundamental right, not a prize granted by the government. Additionally, more than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers have signed a petition standing in solidarity with Abraham and Szor. The signatories argued that the role of art is to reflect society and encourage debate, even when the reality is difficult to confront. International voices have also chimed in, with director Laura Poitras stating that the threats from Israeli officials represent “a threat to journalists worldwide.” The Guardian, which co-produced the film, has maintained its support for the project, stating, “We will robustly defend NAZA – and the team behind it – from any attacks or attempts at censorship.”