Film industry figures worldwide have voiced solidarity with Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the Oscar-winning Israeli directors of the documentary NAZA, after Israel's culture minister threatened to strip their citizenship and accused them of treason, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor are the Oscar-winning Israeli directors of the documentary NAZA.
- Israel's culture minister threatened to revoke their citizenship and accused them of 'treason against the state', according to the Guardian.
- NAZA, produced by the Guardian, is named after an acronym the outlet says is used by Israel's intelligence service to indicate expected civilian deaths in a Gaza airstrike.
- The film includes interviews with 24 Israeli military or intelligence soldiers and officers about AI-powered targeting systems, according to the Guardian.
- Film industry figures across the globe have expressed solidarity with the directors.
Film industry figures around the world have voiced support for Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the Oscar-winning Israeli directors of the documentary NAZA, according to the Guardian. The show of solidarity comes after the pair were threatened with having their citizenship revoked by Israel’s culture minister, who accused them of “treason against the state”.
The documentary, which was produced by the Guardian, is named after an acronym that the outlet says is used euphemistically by Israel’s intelligence service to indicate how many civilians it expects to die in an airstrike on Gaza.
NAZA features interviews with 24 Israeli military or intelligence soldiers and officers, according to the Guardian. Those interviewed described AI-powered targeting systems used to bombard Gaza, which the outlet says resulted in the mass killing of Palestinian civilians.
The backing from film industry figures follows the citizenship threat and the treason accusation directed at the two directors. One reaction cited in the coverage held that the move “should be condemned by any thinking human”.
It is not yet clear from the available reporting whether the culture minister’s threat has translated into any formal legal or administrative action against the directors, or what fuller response Israel’s government may offer.
Why it matters
The threat to revoke the citizenship of two Oscar-winning filmmakers raises questions about press freedom, artistic expression and how states respond to journalism scrutinising military conduct. The international show of support signals that many in the film industry regard the treason accusation as a challenge to documentary work more broadly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the documentary NAZA about?
According to the Guardian, NAZA is named after an acronym used euphemistically by Israel's intelligence service to indicate how many civilians it expects to die in a Gaza airstrike. It includes interviews with 24 Israeli military or intelligence soldiers and officers who described AI-powered targeting systems used to bombard Gaza.
Who directed NAZA?
The documentary was directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, described by the Guardian as Oscar-winning Israeli directors. It was produced by the Guardian.
Why are the directors facing threats to their citizenship?
The Guardian reports that Israel's culture minister threatened to revoke their citizenship and accused them of 'treason against the state' over the documentary.