Israeli Minister attacks filmmakers over Venice award-winning film

“To those who defame our heroic fighters, who risk their lives so that we can live in peace and security, I say: you are a disgrace and a dishonor to the entire people of Israel. Go away.”

This was the harsh reaction of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir toward Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, the directors of the film “Naza,” which received a Special Jury Prize in Venice, CE Report quotes ANSA.

In a post on X, he described the film as “collateral damage, directed against the people of Israel.”

“I am sure that your friends, our enemies from Hamas in Gaza, will welcome you with open arms!” he added.

NAZA premiered in competition at the 2026 Venice Film Festival and received the Special Jury Prize on September 12. The 80-minute documentary, produced by The Guardian, investigates Israel’s use of artificial-intelligence and intelligence systems in military operations in Gaza. It is based on testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence insiders, interviewed anonymously. L La Biennale di Venezia+1

The film’s title, “NAZA,” refers to an acronym reportedly used within Israeli intelligence to indicate the expected number of civilian deaths associated with a planned airstrike. The documentary argues that such systems have played a significant role in the targeting process. The Israeli military has rejected the film’s allegations, questioning the reliability of anonymous sources and denying that AI independently determines targets. T The Guardian+1

The filmmakers are already known for “No Other Land,” the documentary about Israeli settler violence and Palestinian life in the occupied West Bank that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025. Abraham and Szor were two of its four co-directors. T The Guardian

The Venice screening quickly became politically charged. NAZA reportedly received about 25 minutes of applause, with Palestinian and Lebanese flags raised in the auditorium. During the awards ceremony, Abraham said it was difficult to see Israeli politicians and journalists attacking the film without having seen it and argued that denying alleged crimes allows them to continue. L la Repubblica+1

That reaction was followed by strong condemnation from Israeli officials. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attacked the filmmakers, accusing them of defaming Israeli soldiers and telling them to “go away.” The controversy subsequently escalated further, with Culture Minister Miki Zohar calling for Abraham and Szor to be stripped of their Israeli citizenship, an extraordinary demand that has intensified the debate inside Israel over the film. T The Guardian+1

The dispute therefore goes beyond a film award: NAZA has become a flashpoint in the debate over Israel’s war in Gaza, freedom of expression, the role of Israeli filmmakers criticizing their own government and military, and competing narratives about civilian casualties and military targeting. The film’s Special Jury Prize has given that debate an international platform.

Photo: X/video