In the morning of this Saturday (7), the Palestinian Islamic political group Hamas declared war on Israel with a surprise military operation called “Storm of Al-Aqsa,” launching missiles, rockets, and ground military operations into Israeli territory. The State of Israel responded with airstrikes on the city of Gaza, the epicenter of the Palestinian group’s activities.
The conflict has already claimed over 1,100 lives, sparking heated debates worldwide. To gain a better understanding of this long-standing conflict, which dates back to 1967 with the Six-Day War when Israel invaded the territories of the West Bank and Gaza, we’ve compiled a list of movies and documentaries that narrate the events of this war.
“Lemon Tree” (2008), directed by Eran Riklis and Ira Riklis
Salma Zidane, a Palestinian widow, sees her lemon grove, which provides her livelihood, threatened when the Israeli Defense Minister moves in next door. The Israeli Security Force soon declares that her lemon trees pose a threat to the minister’s security and must be removed. Salma seeks help from the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Army, both of which refuse. Then, a young Palestinian lawyer, Ziad Daud, becomes involved in the case.
Bubble (2006), directed by Eytan Fox
Three young people live in an isolated neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel, nicknamed the “bubble” because it is disconnected from the conflict. They lead ordinary lives until one of them falls in love with a Palestinian who illegally moves into their apartment.
“Budrus” (2009), directed by Julia Bacha
The film tells the story of the Palestinians through the life of Ayed Morrar, a community leader who managed to unite members of Fatah, Hamas, and Israeli supporters in an unarmed movement to protect their village in the West Bank from the construction of the Israeli Separation Wall. This battle became a symbol of resistance and achieved victory in 2003.
Gaza Left in the Dark (2012)
The film portrays the constant power outages caused by the limited electricity supply in Gaza and its impact on the daily lives of Palestinians in the region. The constant power cuts prevent them from being active on social media to report the situation.
Disturbing the Peace (2016), directed by Stephen Apkon and Andrew Young
The film follows a group of former enemy combatants, both Israelis and Palestinians, who have come together to say “enough.” It traces the transformation journey of soldiers committed to armed conflict into nonviolent peace activists.
Kedma (2002), directed by Amos Gitai
In 1948, seven days before the establishment of the State of Israel, the ship Kedma arrives in Palestine with a group of Jewish refugees from Europe, encountering a local war between British troops and the Jewish underground army that prevents them from disembarking.
“Born in Gaza” (2014)
“Born in Gaza” is a documentary focusing on the Israeli occupation of Palestine and its impact on the children of Gaza. The film follows the lives of about ten children, recounting their daily lives after the horrors of the 2014 Gaza war.
“Gaza Fights for Freedom” (2019)
“Gaza Fights for Freedom” was filmed during the height of the Great March of Return protests, containing exclusive footage of these demonstrations in which 200 unarmed civilians were killed by Israeli snipers since March 30, 2018.
“Samouni Road” (2018)
In a small farming community in Gaza, the Samouni family is about to celebrate a wedding. It will be the first celebration since the last attack. Amal, Fuad, their brothers, and cousins lost their parents, homes, and olive trees. As the survivors’ memories are rebuilt, the film depicts a family before, during, and after a tragic event.
“Stronger than Words”
“Stronger than Words” is a film that portrays the story of the deaf community in Gaza. Before the Israeli attacks in July 2014, there were approximately 15,000 deaf individuals throughout the Gaza Strip, out of a total population of 1.8 million. The film features many strong figures from this vibrant community, living their daily lives.
“Gaza” (2019)
“Gaza” is a 2019 documentary directed by Irish filmmakers Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film offers a beautiful portrait of ordinary citizens of Gaza, leading meaningful lives beyond the scenes of violence.
Explore these films to gain deeper insights into the Palestinian issue and the ongoing conflicts with Israel, shedding light on the complex history of the region.