In Israel, demands made to strip directors of the film "NAZA" of their citizenship
Demands made in Israel to strip directors of the film "NAZA" of their citizenship
Israeli Minister of Culture Miki Zohar has demanded that Rachel Shor and Yuval Abraham, the directors of the documentary film "NAZA" which criticizes the Israeli army, be stripped of their citizenship. They hold both Israeli and British citizenship.
"The self-hatred of these directors, who are ready to harm their own country to win the applause of anti-Semites around the world, is unimaginable. This is treason against the state," Zohar wrote on the X platform on September 13.
He stated that he would take immediate action to revoke the Israeli citizenship of both directors "for treason." The Dpa agency notes that it remains unclear whether Zohar's threat will be realized.
In February, Israeli authorities for the first time stripped two convicted criminals of their citizenship and ordered their deportation. The relevant law applies to individuals who have committed terrorist attacks and received financial assistance from the Palestinian National Authority.
Israeli Minister of National Security, far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, also sharply criticized the directors, calling them a disgrace to the entire Israeli nation.
"I am sure your friends — our enemies in Hamas — will welcome you with open arms!" he wrote on his X page.
On September 12, Abraham and Shor's documentary "NAZA" won the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. During the premiere, the film received a 25-minute standing ovation. The film begins with the major attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, by the Hamas movement, which is recognized as a terrorist organization in the European Union and the US.
The film criticizes the methods of warfare used by the Israeli military. Abraham interviewed 24 Israeli intelligence officers. Their voices were digitally altered, and their faces were hidden. They spoke about how targets are selected in the Gaza Strip and what level of civilian casualties is considered acceptable.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rejected the allegations in the film. The army criticized the film for being based on anonymous statements by unidentified individuals.
On October 7, 2023, the Hamas movement launched a major attack on Israel. The militant group fired rockets at Israel, invaded its territory, and carried out the largest massacre of civilians in the history of the modern State of Israel.
As a result, approximately 1,200 people were killed. The militants also took about 250 people hostage and brought them to the Gaza Strip. Some of the hostages were later exchanged or released, while others died.
In response, Israel declared war on Hamas. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 174,000 injured during the ground operation and bombings in the Gaza Strip.