Israel's Culture Minister calls for 'NAZA' filmmakers to lose citizenship after Venice award

The documentary examines allegations of civilian deaths in Gaza during Israeli military operations

Israel’s Culture Minister Miki Zohar has said he will seek to revoke the citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor following their documentary NAZA receiving the Special Jury Prize at the 2026 Venice Film Festival.

Zohar announced that he would “act immediately to revoke the Israeli citizenship” of the Israeli filmmakers, who are two of the four directors of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.

הזכייה של הסרט הנבזי נז״א בפסטיבל ונציה מזעזעת. השנאה העצמית היוקדת של היוצרים שמוכנים לפגוע במולדתם כדי לקבל מחיאות כפיים מהאנטישמים בעולם בלתי נתפסת ומהווה בגידה במדינה.
זו בדיוק הסיבה שהובלתי את הרפורמה החשובה בקולנוע כדי שאזרחי ישראל לא ישלמו יותר מכיסם על הפגיעה בחיילי צה״ל…

— Miki Zohar מיקי זוהר (@zoharm7) September 13, 2026

Zohar described NAZA as “vile” and said its Venice recognition was “shocking”.

He also accused the filmmakers of betraying Israel, stating, “The self-loathing that burns in the creators, who are willing to harm their homeland just to get applause from antisemites around the world, is inconceivable and constitutes a betrayal of the state.”

NAZA examines allegations that Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in civilian deaths regarded as collateral damage.

Israeli military personnel interviewed in the film discuss the term “NAZA”, described as an acronym for collateral damage.

The documentary received a reported 25-minute standing ovation at its Venice premiere before winning the Special Jury Prize on Saturday.

The film has also drawn criticism from former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Yesterday, a film accusing Israel of genocide premiered.

It’s a horrific blood libel against our sons and daughters. What makes it especially painful and infuriating is that this lie comes from Israeli filmmakers and is now being spread around the world.

Let’s get the facts…

— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) September 11, 2026

Bennett said he was “proud” and “deeply grateful” to Israeli soldiers and reservists, adding, “To portray them as perpetrators of ‘genocide’ is not courageous art. It is a cowardly blood libel.”

Zohar has previously criticised filmmakers who use government funding to criticise Israel, saying, “For years, the formula was simple: Defame Israel and receive a check from the government.”