Film industry leaders from across the globe have united in support of Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the Oscar-winning Israeli documentarians currently facing threats of citizenship revocation. Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar publicly accused the duo of committing treason, vowing to strip them of their status following the success of their latest film, NAZA.
Produced in partnership with, the 80-minute documentary explores the human toll of the conflict in Gaza. It features testimonies from 24 Israeli intelligence and military personnel who detail the automated, AI-driven targeting systems utilized in aerial bombardments that have resulted in significant Palestinian civilian casualties. The film serves as an extension of investigative reporting conducted between 2023 and 2025 by +972 Magazine, Local Call, and.
The documentary achieved historic recognition at the Venice Film Festival this past Saturday, earning the special jury prize after setting a festival record with a 25-minute standing ovation. The government reaction followed on Sunday, when Zohar declared on social media that he would take immediate steps to revoke the directors’ citizenship, claiming the pair sought to damage their country to gain favor with global antisemites.
The film industry has responded with widespread condemnation of these state-level threats. Julie Huntsinger, artistic director of the Telluride Film Festival, labeled the intimidation tactics unacceptable for any thinking human, noting that documentary filmmakers are essential journalists whose work is critical to global understanding. Similarly, leadership at the Locarno Film Festival emphasized that cinematic and journalistic freedom are the bedrock of dialogue, affirming their support for artists who investigate difficult, urgent subjects.
The Berlin Film Festival director, Tricia Tuttle, joined these sentiments, asserting that while art may provoke disagreement, a democratic society must respond with scrutiny rather than state-sponsored punishment. In Germany, Tuttle has previously faced her own political pressure after prize winners at the Berlinale criticized Israeli military actions, leading to calls for her resignation from officials and tabloid media. She remains a vocal advocate for artistic independence.
Screenings are scheduled to continue, with the film appearing at the San Sebastián Film Festival and later at the New York Film Festival following a presentation in Bologna. In a formal statement, San Sebastián organizers described the film as an exposure of systemic tragedy and pledged solidarity with both the directors and the Palestinian people.
Domestically, a petition signed by more than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers has surfaced to refute the government’s treason accusations. The document warns that such official rhetoric creates an environment that sanctions violence and endangers the safety of the creators. Signatories include notable figures such as Nadav Lapid, Hagai Levi, and Liran Atzmor.
For Abraham and Szor, the current hostility is part of a growing pattern of intimidation. In 2025, they won an Oscar for No Other Land, which documented settler violence in the West Bank. Following that recognition, Abraham’s family home was targeted by a right-wing mob, an experience he described as a harrowing moment for his mother.
Consultant and Oscar-winning director Laura Poitras has also defended the film’s factual integrity, emphasizing that its assertions are backed by rigorous, multi-source fact-checking. Poitras condemned the government’s threats as a broader warning to journalists everywhere, noting that the ongoing conflict has already claimed the lives of over 200 journalists in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, the war has resulted in the deaths of more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 174,000 others, impacting more than 10% of the Gaza population. The report also notes that NAZA, which was produced by, is named for an acronym euphemistically used by Israel’s intelligence service to indicate how many civilians it expects to die in an airstrike on Gaza. The report also notes that resulting in the mass killing of Palestinian civilians, it includes interviews with 24 Israeli military or intelligence soldiers and officers who outlined the AI-powered targeting systems used to bombard Gaza. The report also notes that the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call and between 2023 and 2025, the film builds on revelations first published by the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine. The report also notes that or the jury headed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, have not yet commented on these threats, but the artistic director of the Telluride film festival – widely acknowledged as the foremost Oscars launchpad – was swift to voice her outrage, representatives for Venice. The report also notes that artistic and journalistic freedom are the very foundation of what cinema can be: a space for dialogue which engages critically with the world we live in.”. The report also notes that they added that they “reaffirm our support for film-makers who ask difficult questions and help us reflect”. The report also notes that following this victory, Abraham’s family home was targeted by a rightwing mob. “For me, that was the worst moment of all,” he said last week. “My mum is hoping it doesn’t happen again.”.
Comments