U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over proposed legislation targeting Israeli filmmakers behind the Gaza documentary NAZA and individuals who “defame” soldiers
The NAZA Documentary: Netanyahu proposed bills aiming to hit critics “in their pockets and in their citizenship,” specifically citing the film NAZA for portraying Israeli officers and soldiers as war criminals
Proposed Measures: The legislation seeks to penalize those who defame the military, including potential citizenship revocation, mirroring existing 2022 Supreme Court provisions on breaches of trust.
Sanders’ Reaction: Sanders condemned Netanyahu’s threats against the filmmakers and renewed his ongoing calls to halt U.S. taxpayer-funded military assistance to the Israeli government.
Broader Stance: Sanders has previously characterized Israel’s military actions in Gaza as genocide, arguing that U.S. leverage must be used to demand permanent ceasefires and humanitarian aid
