Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to introduce legislation that would allow the Israeli government to revoke the citizenship of people accused of defaming Israeli soldiers, following the backlash over NAZA, the Gaza documentary directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. Netanyahu also proposed a separate bill that would increase statutory damages in defamation cases by 20 times.

The announcement escalates a dispute that began after NAZA won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival on September 12. The film features interviews with 24 Israeli military and intelligence insiders who describe alleged targeting practices and civilian casualties in Gaza. The Israeli military has rejected the documentary’s allegations and questioned the ability to independently verify the anonymous sources.

In a video statement, the Israeli Prime Minister said the proposed citizenship legislation would target people who “defame” Israeli soldiers. He also said the government would pursue increased financial penalties in defamation cases, framing the measures as a response to what he described as attacks on Israeli troops.

The move follows Culture Minister Miki Zohar’s earlier call to revoke Abraham and Szor’s citizenship. Zohar accused the filmmakers of treason after NAZA received its Venice award and said he had contacted Israel’s Population Authority and Interior Ministry to examine whether their citizenship could be revoked over alleged breaches of trust and possible cooperation with an enemy during wartime.

Israeli law places limits on the process. A citizenship revocation request must involve the Interior Ministry and requires further governmental and judicial approval, meaning Netanyahu’s proposed legislation would still face legal and institutional hurdles before any citizenship could actually be revoked. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has also said the proposal has “no chance” of succeeding.

The controversy has prompted a growing backlash from within the film industry. More than 1,500 Israeli film professionals have signed a petition supporting Abraham and Szor, while international figures including Telluride artistic director Julie Huntsinger and leaders of the Locarno Film Festival have defended the filmmakers’ artistic and journalistic freedom.

NAZA received a 24-minute standing ovation at Venice before winning the Special Jury Prize. Abraham and Szor previously co-directed No Other Land, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025.