Netanyahu escalates threats against ‘NAZA’ filmmakers with proposed citizenship law

Paris, September 17, 2026 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that his government will seek legislation to revoke the citizenship of Israelis who “defame” Israeli soldiers abroad, explicitly citing the documentary “NAZA” and its filmmakers, investigative journalist Yuval Abraham and filmmaker Rachel Szor, is a dangerous escalation in official efforts to intimidate and punish journalists.

The Committee to Protect Journalists warned on September 15 that threats by senior Israeli officials against the filmmakers could encourage members of the public to intimidate or silence them. Dozens protested Wednesday evening outside Szor’s family home, forcing them to reportedly flee, which underscores the risks created when government officials publicly target journalists.

In a video, Netanyahu said Wednesday that his government would introduce two bills: one to allow the revocation of citizenship from people who defame Israeli soldiers abroad, and another to increase the sum they can be sued for in defamation cases. Netanyahu specifically referred to “NAZA” and its directors Abraham and Szor. The proposed measures have not yet become law.

“Israeli authorities are moving from public threats against journalists to pursuing legislation that could strip them of their citizenship for their reporting,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “This is a grave threat to press freedom. Journalists must not face the loss of their citizenship, legal retaliation, or intimidation because they report critically on the conduct of the military or other powerful institutions. Israeli authorities must immediately end this campaign against Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and ensure their safety and that of their families.”

The announcement came amid an intensifying campaign against the filmmakers. On Wednesday, according to media reports, police and border police were deployed to the protest in front of Szor’s family’s house. In one video, protestors could be heard chanting “death sentence for traitors.” The reported demonstration followed days of increasingly hostile public rhetoric targeting the filmmakers. 

Journalist Hagai Matar, the executive director of left-leaning independent +972 Magazine and co-director of  Hebrew-language independent news site Sicha Mekomit “Local Call,” which has published investigations by Abraham, told CPJ their offices were broken into on Wednesday.

“A group broke into the Sicha Mekomit offices, filmed the rooms, and caused a disturbance,” Matar said.

Videos posted by right-wing activist Mordechai David showed him inside the publication’s offices, as well as outside, confronting a female journalist, who called the police.

Sicha Mekomit, +972 Magazine, and the British newspaper The Guardian collaborated on publishing the investigations on which the film Naza is based. The website also publishes investigations and reports by Abraham about the Israeli military and the war in the Gaza Strip.

The escalation follows earlier threats from Israeli officials. Culture Minister Miki Zohar threatened to seek the revocation of Abraham’s and Szor’s citizenship, while IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said military lawyers were examining possible legal action concerning “NAZA” and those involved in the film.

CPJ calls on Israeli authorities to immediately end threats of legal, administrative, or other retaliation against Abraham and Szor over their journalism and filmmaking, abandon any effort to use citizenship revocation, defamation laws, or other legal measures to punish journalists for reporting on matters of public interest. The safety of Abraham, Szor and their families is paramount, and officials must refrain from public rhetoric or actions that could encourage threats, harassment, or violence against journalists.

CPJ contacted the Israeli police by messaging app for comment on the measures taken to investigate threats against and protect the filmmakers, including as protesters gathered outside their homes and others broken into the offices of Sieha Mekomit. CPJ also contacted the prime minister’s office about concerns that his measures are retaliatory against investigative journalists. Neither responded by the time of publication.