- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to revoke the citizenship of the directors of NAZA, a documentary about Israeli soldiers' killings of civilians in Gaza.
- On Tuesday, Netanyahu accused several of his election rivals of failing to take a tough stand against the documentary, claiming this made them unfit for office.
- On Wednesday, he pledged to advance two bills that he said would address the “immense damage” done to Israeli soldiers in the film.
- Netanyahu stated, “The first [order]: To revoke the citizenship of anyone who defames [Israeli] soldiers, and the second: To hit them in their pockets and increase the statutory damages for defamation they can be sued for by 20 times.”
- In 2022, Israel’s Supreme Court passed a law that permits stripping citizenship from Israelis who carry out actions that constitute a breach of trust against the state.
- Netanyahu cited three examples in proposing the bills: NAZA, remarks by Yair Golan that “a sane country does not kill children as a hobby”, and a 2024 leak of a video showing soldiers abusing a Gaza detainee.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to introduce two bills aimed at filmmakers of the documentary NAZA, which alleges war crimes by Israeli soldiers in Gaza. The proposed legislation would allow for the revocation of citizenship for those who defame Israeli soldiers and significantly increase statutory damages for defamation claims.126
The documentary, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, documents allegations that mass civilian deaths were intentionally included in military target decisions during Israel's operations in Gaza. Netanyahu criticized the film, stating it portrays Israeli officers and soldiers as war criminals, and accused political rivals of not taking a strong enough stance against it.
In a social media video, Netanyahu stated, “We will hit them both in their pockets and in their citizenship, as their place is not with us.” He cited the film as a key example of the damage done to Israeli soldiers' reputations, alongside remarks from former military personnel and leaked videos showing misconduct.
The proposed legislation follows a 2022 ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court, which allows for the stripping of citizenship from individuals who breach trust against the state. Any new laws are expected to face legal challenges similar to those encountered previously.
Netanyahu's actions reflect a broader trend of increasing tensions surrounding the portrayal of the Israeli military and its operations in Gaza, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts and international scrutiny.
“Netanyahu's proposed legislation would increase statutory damages for defamation by 20 times, citing the documentary's portrayal of soldiers as war criminals. He also accused election rivals of failing to take a tough stand, and any new law may face court challenges similar to a 2022 Supreme Court ruling.”
