Israeli Minister Threatens Filmmakers' Citizenship After Venice Win
Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar threatened to revoke the citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor after their documentary NAZA about Israel's actions in Gaza won the Special Jury Prize at Venice. The threat was reported on September 14, 2026, following a Sunday post by Zohar on X. Al Jazeera
Zohar called the 80-minute film "vile" and called its win "shocking." He accused Abraham and Szor of harming Israel to gain applause from antisemites around the world. He said their actions were treason against the state and that he will act immediately to revoke their citizenship. The threat is a statement of intent, not a completed action.
NAZA focuses on Israel's actions in Gaza through military targeting systems. According to the festival's official synopsis, it reports Israel's use of AI-powered systems to carry out calculated mass killings of Palestinians in Gaza. It describes a system called Lavender used to monitor telecommunications between Palestinians in Gaza to select targets for killing. The film alleges that high civilian death tolls were routinely built into those targeting decisions. Reuters
The film draws on testimony from Israeli military and intelligence personnel who spoke on condition of anonymity. That group includes 24 insiders, among them intelligence officers and soldiers. The directors discussed the film publicly on Thursday, September 10, 2026. It received a 25-minute standing ovation at its Venice premiere and won the Special Jury Prize on Saturday.
Abraham said he hoped the documentary would push Western governments to apply economic sanctions on Israel, meaning financial and trade penalties meant to pressure a government to change policy.
The 83rd Venice Film Festival ran from September 2 to September 12, 2026. NAZA was added to the program during the buildup. Hollywood largely withdrew from the 2026 edition amid an industry crisis. La Biennale
The broader context here is a clash between two ideas of responsibility. Zohar frames the filmmakers' work as treason linked to citizenship. Abraham frames outside economic pressure as the intended result of the testimony. Both treat the film as a tool, not only as a record. An announced plan to act is not a formal revocation, and a jury prize is separate from government action. The questions now are whether the ministry opens a formal process, how the filmmakers and festival bodies reply, and whether any government treats the sanctions call as actionable.
