Oscar-winning directors Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham are facing the possibility of being stripped of their Israeli citizenship for treason. This follows the release of their Guardian-produced documentary, "NAZA," which examines the AI-powered targeting systems used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza.
The film, named after an Israeli military acronym for "collateral damage," features interviews with 24 anonymous insiders who discuss their roles. Israeli leaders have labelled "NAZA" a "blood libel" and "fiction."
The documentary alleges that the IDF campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 73,000 Palestinians, including more than 20,000 children. It also claims that Israeli soldiers described the military accepting large numbers of Palestinian casualties as the price for killing a single Hamas operative.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly threatened anyone who "defames" Israeli soldiers with loss of citizenship. Far-right activists are also targeting the filmmakers' families with threats, and their lives might be in danger if they return to Israel.
The Committee to Protect Journalists and 10 other press-freedom groups have issued a warning, urging Israel to protect its journalists and filmmakers rather than branding them as traitors.