Venice Film Festival Applauds NAZA Amidst Israeli Threats to Filmmakers
The documentary film "NAZA," directed by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, received a 25-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, surpassing the 23-minute ovation for "The Voice of Hind Rajab" last year. The film, which explores the mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza through testimonies from 24 Israeli military insiders, won the Special Jury Prize. However, the filmmakers are now facing threats from Israeli officials; Culture Minister Miki Zohar publicly accused them of "treason against the state" and requested an investigation into whether their citizenship could be revoked. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also criticized the film, presenting it as part of a wider campaign against Israel. The military's Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, ordered a legal review and an investigation into alleged leaks of classified material used in the production. The Guardian, a participant in the film's production, has pledged to defend "NAZA" and its team from attacks and censorship.
