New York – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and 10 international press freedom organisations are calling on Israeli authorities to protect the safety and fundamental rights of Israeli investigative journalists and filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
The move follows threats to the winners of the Special Jury Prize for “NAZA“ made by senior officials and escalating intimidation targeting the journalists, their families, and media outlets that publish their work.
NAZA is a 2026 British documentary exposing Israel’s AI-assisted targeting of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, based on interviews with 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence insiders.
Directed by Abraham and Szor, NAZA premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 10, 2026, winning the Special Jury Prize and receiving a record-breaking 25-minute standing ovation
The Guardian reports that earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would seek new laws allowing Israel to strip citizenship from people who “smear” Israeli soldiers.
Netanyahu’s comments have escalated the campaign against the Oscar-winning filmmakers, who have faced threats from senior government and military officials and groups of far-right Israelis gathering outside their families’ homes.
In the statement made available to The Bulrushes on Saturday, 19 September 2026, the CPJ and its partners urged Israeli authorities to immediately end the campaign against Abraham and Szor and ensure their safety, emphasising that journalists must be able to investigate and report freely on the conduct of governments, militaries, and other powerful institutions.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern of Israeli authorities and security forces attacking journalists, the majority of whom are Palestinians.
The joint letter is available here in English.
