JERUSALEM — On a street in southern Israel, a graffiti artist paints a mural depicting the filmmakers behind the award-winning documentary NAZA. But this is not a tribute.

Red targets are painted next to the two Israeli directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, whose faces are branded with the word “TRAITORS”.

A month ahead of close-fought elections, the documentary, which uses anonymous military sources to speak about Israel’s widespread killing of civilians in Gaza, has unleashed a political storm.

An ensuing wave of threats and intimidation has targeted the film’s creators and their families.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has even said he intends to introduce legislation aimed at revoking the citizenship of people who “defame IDF soldiers.”

“Their place is not among us,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on X late on Wednesday.

At the same time his video appeared on social media, dozens of protesters were gathering outside the home of Szor’s parents in central Israel, shouting “You’re not welcome here!”

The gathering in Savyon was organised by a far-right influencer, Mordechai David, an ally of Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

“This is only the beginning!” David vowed.

In the southern port city of Ashdod, the artist behind the mural of Abraham and Szor unleashed a torrent of insults at the filmmakers, who are currently abroad.

“I have zero sympathy for all those pro-Palestinians talking abroad,” Dudi Shuval told AFP.