Netanyahu Threatens to Revoke Citizenship for Those Who Defame Israeli Soldiers

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to push forward two legislative bills that would allow for the revocation of citizenship for anyone who defames Israeli soldiers and increase the statutory damages for defamation 20-fold. This announcement follows controversy surrounding "NAZA," a documentary that won an award at the Venice Film Festival and alleges Israeli soldiers killed civilians in Gaza.

Highlights

• Prime Minister Netanyahu stated his intention to advance a bill to revoke the citizenship of individuals who defame Israeli soldiers.
• Another proposed bill seeks to increase the legal damages for defamation in such cases by 20 times.
• These initiatives come after the release of the "NAZA" documentary, directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, which focuses on civilian deaths in Gaza.
• The film "NAZA" received the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and has drawn harsh criticism within Israel.
• Netanyahu asserted that these measures aim to address the "immense damage" caused to Israeli soldiers.

Details

In a social media video, Netanyahu declared, "We will hit them both in their pockets and in their citizenship, as their place is not with us." The Prime Minister cited the "NAZA" film, which he claimed portrayed Israeli officers and soldiers as war criminals, as well as 2025 remarks by former left-wing general-turned-politician Yair Golan, who said "a sane country does not kill children as a hobby," and a 2024 leaked video showing soldiers abusing a Gaza detainee, as reasons for proposing these bills.

"NAZA" takes its title from an Israeli military term for expected "collateral casualties" and is based on anonymous interviews with intelligence officers and soldiers. It documents allegations that mass civilian deaths were inherent in Israel's target decisions in Gaza, claims that Netanyahu and the army reject. The film has intensified the charged domestic political atmosphere ahead of Israel's October 27 election.

Why it matters

These proposed bills could spark significant debate regarding freedom of expression and citizenship rights in Israel. In 2022, Israel's Supreme Court passed a law permitting the stripping of citizenship from Israelis who commit acts constituting a breach of trust against the state. Any new legislation is likely to face similar court challenges. This situation could have considerable repercussions within Israeli domestic politics and internationally concerning human rights. According to health authorities, over 73,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.