Israeli minister threatens to revoke filmmakers’ citizenship over Gaza film

Culture minister labels Gaza genocide film as vile, criticising it after Venice Film Festival recognition.

Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, winners of the Special Jury Prize for NAZA, attend a photocall on the red carpet following the closing ceremony of the 83rd Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido on September 12, 2026 [Stefano Rellandini/AFP]

Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar has said that he will move to revoke the citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor after their documentary on Israel’s genocide in Gaza, NAZA , won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.

In an X post on Sunday, Zohar called the documentary “vile” and its win at the film festival “shocking”. He accused the filmmakers of harming the country “just to get applause from antisemites around the world”.

list 1 of 4 US lawmakers introduce Justice for Hind Rajab Act

list 2 of 4 Hopes for justice rise as The Voice of Hind Rajab heads to Oscars

list 3 of 4 Oscars 2026: Nominees, predictions, start time and how to watch

list 4 of 4 House of Hope: New film follows a Waldorf-inspired school in the West Bank

The minister said that Abraham and Szor’s actions “constitute treason against the state”.

“As culture minister, I will act immediately to revoke the Israeli citizenship of these despicable creators for treason against the state,” he wrote.

The 80-minute film documented Israel’s use of AI-powered systems to commit “calculated mass killings” of Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Venice Film Festival’s official synopsis. The documentary received a 25-minute standing ovation at its premiere during the film festival.

The film features testimonies from Israeli military and intelligence personnel who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Interviewees described an AI system called “Lavender”, used to monitor telecommunications between Palestinians in Gaza and determine targeted killings.

Abraham said he hoped his documentary would push Western governments to apply economic sanctions on Israel.

文化部长称加沙种族灭绝题材电影“卑劣”，此前该片曾获威尼斯电影节表彰。

2026年9月12日，在威尼斯丽都举行的第83届威尼斯电影节闭幕式上，凭借电影《NAZA》获得评审团特别奖的导演尤瓦尔·亚伯拉罕和瑞秋·索尔在红毯上出席了拍照活动。[Stefano Rellandini/AFP]

以色列文化部长米基·佐哈尔表示，在纪录片《纳扎》（NAZA）获得威尼斯电影节评审团特别奖后，他将撤销电影制作人尤瓦尔·亚伯拉罕和雷切尔·索尔的公民身份。该片讲述了以色列在加沙的种族灭绝行为。

佐哈尔周日在X论坛发帖称这部纪录片“卑劣”，并对其在电影节上的获奖感到“震惊”。他指责电影制作人“为了博取世界各地反犹分子的掌声”而损害国家利益。

名单1/4，美国议员提出《为欣德·拉贾布伸张正义法案》

列表 2/4：《印度之声》入围奥斯卡，正义的希望升温

2026年奥斯卡颁奖典礼（共4项）列表之三：提名名单、预测、开始时间和观看方式

列表 4/4：《希望之家》：一部新电影讲述了西岸一所受华德福教育启发的学校的故事

部长表示，亚伯拉罕和索尔的行为“构成对国家的叛国罪”。

“作为文化部长，我将立即采取行动，以叛国罪为由，撤销这些卑鄙创作者的以色列公民身份，”他写道。

根据威尼斯电影节的官方简介，这部80分钟的影片记录了以色列利用人工智能系统在加沙对巴勒斯坦人进行“有预谋的大规模屠杀”。该纪录片在电影节首映时获得了长达25分钟的起立鼓掌。

这部影片收录了以色列军方和情报人员的证词，他们均要求匿名。受访者描述了一个名为“薰衣草”（Lavender）的人工智能系统，该系统用于监控加沙地带巴勒斯坦人之间的通信，并据此确定定点清除行动。

亚伯拉罕表示，他希望他的纪录片能够促使西方政府对以色列实施经济制裁。