NAZA Documentary Faces Netanyahu’s Threat Over Defamation of Israeli Soldiers

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Israel has declared to announce rule that would permit citizenship to be revoked from people who “defame” Israeli soldiers, following debate over the documentary NAZA.

Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor are documentary director, Szor, examines the killing of civilians in Gaza and includes accounts from Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers. As per documentary, death of civilians were part of routine targeting decisions in Gaza, an entitlement that Netanyahu and the military have denied.

The documentary NAZA honored the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, increased wider attention and generated a strong response in Israel.

Netanyahu said he plans to advance two bills. One would target the citizenship of people accused of defaming Israeli soldiers, while the other would increase statutory damages in defamation cases by 20 times. He said the proposals were intended to address what he described as damage to Israeli soldiers.

The controversy comes as Israel approaches its October 27 election. Netanyahu has also criticized political rivals over their response to the documentary.

Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a law in 2022 allowing citizenship to be stripped in certain cases involving actions considered a breach of trust against the state. Any new law could face legal encounters.

The filmmakers of NAZA said that , they want Israeli audiences to watch the documentary and engage with the issues it presents.