CPJ says legal threats against the NAZA filmmakers are "a warning to journalists and sources"
Committee to Protect JournalistsPress-freedom organization, in a statement quoting its regional director, Sara Qudah
The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Israeli authorities to immediately end threats of legal action against Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor over NAZA, and its regional director said such threats warn journalists and their sources about the consequences of critical reporting.
“These threats cannot be dismissed as political rhetoric. They are a warning to journalists and sources about the potential consequences of reporting critically on powerful institutions”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Should Israel investigate and prosecute those who took part in the film NAZA?
On October 11, 2026, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet Director David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara demanding that they act urgently to identify everyone involved in or appearing in the documentary NAZA, open a criminal investigation for information-security offenses, criminal defamation and harm to Israel's diplomatic and security interests, and put those involved on trial. The film, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, presents testimony from 24 soldiers of the IDF's Unit 8200 intelligence unit about the military's conduct in the Gaza war, and won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival in September. Netanyahu called it false and defamatory. In September, Zamir ordered military lawyers to examine legal measures against those involved, and the Committee to Protect Journalists called on Israeli authorities to end threats of legal action against the filmmakers. The dispute is over whether Israel should investigate and prosecute the people who made the film or spoke in it.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Statement on CPJ's own website, published September 15, 2026.
Before the quotation
CPJ's statement, issued almost four weeks before Netanyahu's October 11 letter, opens by calling on Israeli authorities "to immediately end threats of legal action against Israeli journalist and filmmaker Yuval Abraham and filmmaker Rachel Szor". It cites Culture Minister Miki Zohar's threat to seek the revocation of their citizenship and Zamir's order to examine legal measures. Qudah said authorities must ensure the filmmakers' safety and that threats from senior officials can have a chilling effect.
After the quotation
Qudah continued that the threats are "a dangerous signal to other journalists considering whether to investigate or expose alleged wrongdoing." CPJ wrote that the Israeli military referred its request for comment to the "political echelon" and that the prime minister's office and culture ministry had not responded by publication.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case asks whether Israel should investigate and prosecute the people who made NAZA or appeared in it, as Netanyahu demanded on October 11. CPJ calls on Israeli authorities "to immediately end threats of legal action" against the filmmakers and says such threats are a warning to "journalists and sources". That opposes pursuing legal action against those involved, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Challenged characterization; it loses because CPJ asks authorities to stop the legal threats rather than disputing how they are described.
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More from this case
Read the full caseOfer Cassif rejects Netanyahu's demand to prosecute the NAZA participants
“You, a serial pathological liar, dare to smear creators who are faithful to the truth with lies and defamation? (Translated from Hebrew. Original: אתה – שקרן פתולוגי סדרתי – מעז להכפיש יוצרים הנאמנים לאמת בשקר ודיבה?)”Read statement
Netanyahu demands that the participants in NAZA be investigated and put on trial
“I demand that the Chief of Staff, the head of the Shin Bet and the Attorney General open a comprehensive investigation against the participants in the film "NAZA" and put them on trial for serious information-security offenses, criminal defamation and harm to Israel's diplomatic and security interests. (Translated from Hebrew. Original: אני דורש מהרמטכ״ל, מראש השב״כ ומהיועמ״שית לפתוח בחקירה מקיפה כנגד המשתתפים בסרט ״נז״א״ ולהעמיד אותם לדין בגין עבירות ביטחון מידע חמורות, הוצאת דיבה פלילית ופגיעה באינטרסים מדיניים וביטחוניים של ישראל.)”Read statement
IDF chief Eyal Zamir says the film must be confronted with "every tool at our disposal"
“Such an attempt must be confronted decisively, using every tool at our disposal—legal, command, and public diplomacy.”Read statement
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- The Dispute Index
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- CPJ says legal threats against the NAZA filmmakers are "a warning to journalists and sources"
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/5568-the-committee-to-protect-journalists-called-on-israeli
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "CPJ says legal threats against the NAZA filmmakers are "a warning to journalists and sources"". First published: 2026-10-11. Last updated: 2026-10-11. https://disputeindex.com/events/5568-the-committee-to-protect-journalists-called-on-israeli