BBC Storyville and BBC Eye announce powerful new film, Life and Death in Gaza (2024)

A new film from the BBC World Service investigative unit, BBC Eye, for BBC Storyville, will explore the impact of the Israel-Gaza war on ordinary Gazans living through extraordinary times.

Filmed from the very first days of the war and months into the ongoing conflict, we follow four Gazans – Khalid, Aya, Adam and Aseel – as they document their own lives and the ramifications of the war on their loved ones and those around them.

The 90-minute film will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday 15 October at 9pm and will be available outside the UK on the BBC World Service YouTube page. The film will be available in Arabic on the BBC News Arabic YouTube channel.

From terrifying bombing raids to multiple evacuations, the intensity of family separations and reunions, to deaths and even the birth of a new life amidst the chaos. Life and Death in Gaza is self-shot over the course of the year and captures the fight for survival through direct, personal experiences.

Observational scenes filmed by other filmmakers on the ground are interwoven with personal archives from before the war. Together, they tell a uniquely human story about the first year of the war in Gaza, challenging assumptions about the conflict and those caught in it. The film showcases stories of resilience, loss, and hope amid a deep and desperate humanitarian crisis.

Emma Hindley, Commissioning Editor, BBC Storyville, says: “While we may have seen news reports about the Israel-Gaza conflict over the past year, we rarely hear from the ordinary citizens in Gaza. This unique film brings us Gaza as you’ve never seen it before through the eyes of those living there.”

Fiona Crack, Controller, BBC Languages, says: “Life and Death in Gaza brings audiences in the Middle East and around the world closer to the frontline of the conflict through intimate human stories. Our BBC Eye and BBC Arabic teams have worked to provide an unflinching picture of everyday Gazan life during these extraordinary times.”

Those Palestinians who feature in this intimate and deeply personal documentary are Khalid, Aya, Adam and Aseel. We see their individual stories across the past year:

Khalid – A physiotherapist and father of five in the besieged north of Gaza, defies Israeli orders to evacuate south and struggles to keep his family safe. As hospitals are destroyed in the north and his own clinic in ruins, he sets up a makeshift clinic in his home, turning into an amateur surgeon performing procedures without anaesthetic. A constant presence are his youngest children, Hamoud and Halloum, who we see adjust to war throughout the film, as they play surgeons with their dolls, shout at the ever-present drones in the sky, and even help rebuild their bomb-battered house.

Aya – A women’s rights advocate who has just graduated from law school, sees her promising future derailed when her family is forced to evacuate their home in central Gaza, which is later destroyed by bombing. Like thousands of other families, they shelter in a UN school, turning classrooms into bedrooms. Outspoken and full of defiance, she and her younger sister Noor fill their days with small moments of joy and spontaneity. As they are evacuated again, this time to makeshift tents in the south, their resilience is constantly tested.

Adam – A youth worker for an NGO, he has been evacuated to a school with his younger sisters while his father is in the hospital. When his father dies, Adam takes responsibility for his sisters, Saja and Shaimaa. After visiting the remnants of their destroyed home during a ceasefire, he decides to try to get his sisters out of Gaza. We follow the story of the siblings’ evacuation attempts, and through them, observe the corrupt and profitable industry that has sprung up around Gaza’s desperation and misery.

Aseel – A young, pregnant mother of toddler Rose, Aseel is married to Ibrahim, a photographer. Aseel and Rose are displaced from the north, while Ibrahim turns press photographer, recording the daily bombings and carnage. His work keeps him away from Aseel and Rose for weeks on end, and they both constantly worry that the other might be killed. As Aseel’s due date looms, they desperately search for a hospital that can deliver their baby during the war. They name their new daughter Hayat - Arabic for “life.” Aseel and Ibrahim are constantly on the move with newborn Hayat and Rose, trying to keep them healthy and safe amidst the chaos and carnage of war.

Life and Death in Gaza will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Tuesday 15 October. The film will be available on the BBC World Service YouTube channel outside the UK. The film will be available in Arabic on the BBC News Arabic YouTube channel.

This film forms part of a group of programmes marking the 7 October anniversary and the Israel-Gaza war. Other programming includes the BBC Storyville documentary, Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again which will be shown on 26 September on BBC Two, a Panorama special going out on 7 October on BBC One and news coverage across TV and radio as well as a collection of curated content on iPlayer. Further details will be announced in due course.

About BBC Eye from the BBC World Service

BBC Eye brings investigative journalism and hard-hitting documentaries from the BBC World Service to an international audience. Globally renowned for high quality and high impact investigations, the World Service’s investigative team has a well-established reputation for uncovering stories that have yet to be told, holding power to account and investigating injustice. Previous investigations include the multi-award winning Under Poisoned Skies (2022), Sex for Work: The True Cost of our Tea (2023) and Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua (2024)

About BBC Storyville

BBC Storyville brings audiences the best in international documentaries, shining a light on untold stories from across the globe.

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BBC Storyville and BBC Eye announce powerful new film, Life and Death in Gaza (2024)
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