Prominent Israeli filmmakers have rallied behind the creators of the Gaza documentary after the country’s culture minister accused them of treason and threatened to revoke their citizenship.
More than 200 Israeli filmmakers have signed a petition expressing solidarity with the creators of the controversial documentary Naja, which examines Israel’s military operations in the besieged Gaza Strip.
According to Israeli media reports on Monday, September 14, the filmmakers signed the petition in support of directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Zore, calling for the protection of their rights and freedom of expression.
Among those backing the petition are prominent Israeli directors Ari Folman and Shlomi Elkabetz.
The petition states that one of the fundamental roles of art and journalism is to “hold a mirror” to society. The filmmakers also voiced opposition to state pressure or interference in the production of films and the presentation of their subject matter.
Support Grows After Venice Film Festival Award
Support for Abraham and Zore intensified after Naja won the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice Film Festival.
The filmmakers have faced criticism and threats in Israel since the documentary attracted international attention.
Israel’s Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar has described the filmmakers’ work as “treason” and threatened to revoke their Israeli citizenship.
However, under Israeli law, the culture minister does not have the authority to revoke a person’s citizenship on his own. Such action would require a legal process involving the interior minister and the courts.
What Does ‘Naja’ Reveal?
Produced jointly by British newspaper The Guardian and JW Films, Naja is based on interviews with 24 anonymous Israeli soldiers and intelligence officials.
The documentary examines Israel’s surveillance operations in Gaza, the selection of military targets and the process through which attacks are approved and carried out.
The title Naja refers in Hebrew to the potential deaths of civilians, or “collateral damage,” resulting from a military attack.
The film raises serious allegations about the use of artificial intelligence in selecting targets and describes situations in which attacks were allegedly carried out despite the risk of civilian casualties.
According to the filmmakers, the issues presented in the documentary are not isolated mistakes by individual soldiers but reflect institutional policies within the Israeli military.
Israeli Military Rejects Allegations
The Israeli military has rejected the allegations presented in the documentary.
It says the claims cannot be independently verified because they rely on anonymous sources.
The military also disputes the film’s portrayal of artificial intelligence in the targeting process, saying that attack decisions are made by human personnel in accordance with military rules and procedures.
From ‘No Other Land’ to ‘Naja’
Abraham and Zore previously worked with Palestinian filmmakers on the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which focused on the displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Their latest film has once again placed the filmmakers at the center of a heated debate in Israel over Gaza, freedom of expression and the role of cinema in documenting allegations of military conduct.
The backing of more than 200 Israeli filmmakers marks a significant show of solidarity with the documentary’s creators as the controversy over Naja continues.
