A short film about the lives of aid workers in Gaza

Protecting the storytellers 
At the forefront of our minds when starting out on this project was the duty of care we had for those participating in the film. Health workers and the media have all been targeted by the Israeli military over the past year, so security was our top concern. We couldn’t go to Gaza to film ourselves; nor was it safe enough to film on the streets, in the few hospitals and medical centres that remain, or in the places where MAP was delivering aid. Filming had to be restricted to a safe house and was often delayed due to bombings, forced displacement orders and the local team being displaced from their homes.

A local content production company, Palm Media, was recruited and MAP’s Advocacy and Communications Officer, Tarneem Hammad, who also appears in the film, acted as the on-site director. The Agenda team also worked closely with MAP’s communications team in London.

Coupled with the team’s physical safety was the psychological wellbeing of our storytellers. In accordance with MAP’s ethical interviewing guidelines, we approached the stories with empathy and compassion, gave agency to those being interviewed, and were attentive to the potential for re-traumatisation.  

This meant, for example, rather than asking direct questions about specific events, storytellers were invited to share details of the most significant experiences that have stayed with them over the last year. That way, they had control over what information they wanted to share. They were also given the time they needed to tell their stories and, as you will see from the film, comfort was in plentiful supply.  

Overcoming challenges 
There were other challenges to overcome. Access to electricity and Wi-Fi was sporadic and it was impossible to get high resolution footage on a hard drive out of Gaza due to Israeli restrictions on what was allowed to leave the region. This, in turn, reduced the amount of time we had in post-production and there was some late-night editing sessions required to meet our deadline.  

But one of the most difficult tasks was turning four hours of content into 10 minutes and choosing which elements of each person’s powerful and emotive story to include. Please note that some viewers may find some of the selected content distressing. We certainly do. We are not ashamed to say that tears of sadness and anger have been shed multiple times throughout the editing process. We hope that we’ve done their stories justice. 

Challenging stereotypes 
When it came to the script, in addition to the storytellers having the freedom to tell their own story in their own way, we also wanted to use the film to give the Palestinian people agency. All too often, propaganda about Palestinians deliberately creates negative stereotypes that will not be listed here as we don’t want to reinforce them further. It was essential that we countered those and framed the Palestinian people as kind, compassionate and as ordinary people, just like everyone else.  

We also had some deep conversations about the type of emotion we used in the film. It was important that we created a sense of hope. However, the reality of life in Gaza means hope is very difficult to maintain. A plausible genocide is taking place as the world sits and watches. How could we balance the realities of the pain and suffering while also leaving viewers with the feeling that, with their help and support, peace is possible and that lives can be rebuilt? The answer was to try and reflect the same emotional message that we had incorporated into the communications strategy we had written for MAP earlier this year: Sumud – meaning steadfastness.  

Sumud is an Arabic word and is a Palestinian cultural value that emerged in the wake of the 1967 Six-Day War, capturing the resistance to oppression.   

Two key symbols are used throughout Palestine to demonstrate sumud: the olive tree, which is rooted in the land, and the mother or pregnant woman. In addition, the emergency medical relief committees established in Palestine in the early 1980s are cited as the first widespread manifestation of "resistance sumud".  

That translation and those symbols are relevant to this film. We demonstrate how MAP is: steadfast in its commitment to the occupied Palestinian territory; rooted within the Palestinian community; and providing medical services to women and children among others. 

We also hope that the film will encourage others to be steadfast in their support of MAP and the Palestinian people.

Speaking in the film, Tarneem Hammad, MAP’s Advocacy and Communications Officer, said: “We need you to continue the fight for our freedom, for our basic rights. Your actions, your voices and your belief in a just future is the lifeline that keeps us going. So please do not give up on us. Stand with us.” 

This film is our small contribution to MAP’s mission of a future where every Palestinian has access to a comprehensive, effective and locally-led system of healthcare, and the full realisation of their rights to health and dignity. We stand with the people of Gaza and support MAP’s call for a ceasefire now. Please watch and share, and let the world know that you stand in solidarity with them too.