Netanyahu Vows to Strip Citizenship From Filmmakers Behind Award-Winning Documentary NAZA

The documentary NAZA achieved a historic milestone by breaking the record for the longest standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, clocking in at 24.5 to 25 minutes on September 12, 2026, according to AFP. Following this acclaim, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to advance legislation that would strip citizenship from individuals who defame Israel’s soldiers, specifically targeting the directors of the controversial film.

Directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, NAZA explores allegations that mass civilian casualties were integrated into military targeting decisions during the conflict in Gaza—claims that both Netanyahu and the military strongly deny. The film received the Special Jury Prize at the festival. During his acceptance speech, Abraham asserted that "our country is doing these crimes" and accused Israel of deliberately targeting Palestinians in Gaza.

Taking its title from an Israeli military term denoting expected collateral casualties, the documentary features anonymous interviews with soldiers and intelligence officers. While it has faced severe backlash within Israel—with the military exploring potential legal actions—it has also become a flashpoint ahead of the upcoming October 27 election as Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition battles for a parliamentary majority.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu criticized election rivals for not taking a firm stance against the film. By Wednesday, he committed to pushing forward two legislative proposals aimed at countering the damage he claims the documentary has inflicted on Israeli soldiers. The proposed measures include revoking the citizenship of those who defame soldiers and increasing statutory defamation damages by twenty times. Netanyahu explicitly referenced NAZA, previous remarks by Yair Golan, and a 2024 military leak regarding a detainee abuse video as justifications for the new bills. Any such legislation would likely face significant scrutiny from the Supreme Court, similar to a 2022 law regarding breaches of trust against the state.