Israeli Culture Minister
The documentary, titled NAZA, features testimonies from 24 individuals described as Israeli military or intelligence whistleblowers. The film examines the use of artificial intelligence-driven systems in military targeting during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The production recently received a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival.
Political Reaction and Legal Context
In a statement posted to social media, Miki Zohar described the creators as despicable and vowed to pursue the removal of their citizenship. The call for action was supported by other government figures, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who publicly criticized the directors and suggested they would be welcomed by Hamas.
Under Israeli law, the revocation of citizenship is a rare procedure that requires a specific legal process. While the Supreme Court upheld the state's authority to strip nationality in cases involving espionage or treason in 2022, the process necessitates approval from the interior and justice ministers, as well as judicial validation. Legislation was further amended in 2023 to include individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses.
Documentary Allegations and Military Response
The filmmakers have maintained that their project highlights systemic issues within military operations. Yuval Abraham stated that the whistleblowers interviewed for the film described the targeting processes as deliberate, alleging that the policies are rooted in the dehumanization of Palestinians. The directors previously gained international attention in 2025, when they won an Oscar for a separate documentary concerning settler violence in the West Bank.
The Israeli military has formally challenged the credibility of the film, issuing a statement on Friday that questioned the use of anonymous sources. The military noted that the identities of the whistleblowers featured in the documentary cannot be verified. Furthermore, the Israeli government continues to deny allegations that it deliberately targets civilians during its military campaign. The conflict, which began following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, has resulted in significant casualties, with the Gaza health ministry reporting more than 73,000 deaths, a figure cited by the United Nations.
