Dozens of protesters gathered Wednesday night outside the home of Rachel Szor’s parents in the affluent suburb of Savyon, demonstrating against Szor and co-director Yuval Abraham, the creators of the controversial film NAZA. The protest was led by far-right activist Mordechai David, with demonstrators holding signs accusing the filmmakers of betraying Israeli soldiers and chanting slogans including “Death sentence for traitors.”
Both Szor and Abraham are currently abroad. In a video released Wednesday, David vowed to pursue the directors legally and to prevent their activities “everywhere in the country.” The protest reflects intensified domestic tensions over NAZA, which alleges that the Israeli military routinely accepted civilian casualties in Gaza during targeting operations—claims that the Israeli government and military categorically deny.
The film, which recently won a major award at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, derives its title from an Israeli military acronym referring to anticipated collateral casualties. It is based primarily on anonymous interviews with intelligence personnel and soldiers, and has prompted investigations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) into potential legal measures against those involved.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the filmmakers, asserting the film had caused “immense damage” to Israel’s soldiers. He announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at revoking the citizenship of individuals who defame Israeli soldiers. Netanyahu also proposed enhancing financial penalties for defamation, increasing statutory damages by a factor of 20. “We will hit them both in their pockets and in their citizenship,” he said, declaring that such individuals have no place in Israel.
Culture Minister Miki Zohar echoed Netanyahu’s stance, accusing the directors of treason and joining calls for revoking their citizenship. These positions have sparked debate within Israeli leadership, highlighting a divergence in perspectives on appropriate responses.
Contrasting with these views, President Isaac Herzog described NAZA as “a shame and disgrace” but dismissed efforts to strip the filmmakers of their citizenship as futile and irrelevant. Speaking to N12 television, Herzog contended that the military personnel who spoke on record in the film should have raised their concerns through official channels rather than airing them publicly. He emphasized that the IDF has dedicated units that address such complaints and urged the soldiers to work within those frameworks to avoid damaging Israel’s international reputation.
The controversy surrounding NAZA underscores the ongoing friction within Israel over questions of military conduct, freedom of expression, and national loyalty, with debate continuing over how to balance accountability with protecting the state’s symbolic and legal interests.