GAZA: HOW TO SURVIVE A WARZONE
ONE HOUR FILM FOR THE BBC - CO-DIRECTED & PRODUCED BY JAMIE ROBERTS & YOUSEF HAMMASH - MADE AT HOYO FILMS
A new documentary for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer reveals in gripping detail the lives of four young people living in Gaza as they try to survive the conflict, presenting an unflinching and vivid view of life in a warzone.
Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone is commissioned by BBC Current Affairs and This World. It is co-directed by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Jamie Roberts (Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods, Escape from Kabul Airport, Four Hours at the Capitol) and Yousef Hammash, whose world leading reportage on Gaza won a BAFTA and Emmy in 2024.
The documentary sheds new light on life inside Gaza’s humanitarian ‘safe-zone’ – showing everyday life with ongoing airstrikes and efforts to keep people alive in its only functioning hospital, the Al-Aqsa. This film is narrated by Abdullah, a 13 year old who asks: “have you ever wondered what you’d do if your world was destroyed?” He guides viewers through his life in the safe-zone, where we also meet Renad, aged 10, Zakaria, aged 11 and Rana, aged 24. Despite terrifying air strikes and sudden evacuations there are moments of hope as they attempt to go about normal life - cooking, relaxing at the beach, organising weddings and, in the case of Rana, giving birth. They all hope for a ceasefire and look forward to a future after the war.
Statement from HOYO films
When we were commissioned to make Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, our aim was to make an engaging and insightful documentary about the lives of young people in Gaza. We felt it was important to hear from voices that haven’t been represented onscreen throughout the war with dignity and respect – and to tell the story about the devastating impact of war on their everyday lives.
We are cooperating fully with the BBC and Peter Johnston to help understand where mistakes have been made.
We feel this remains an important story to tell, and that our contributors – who have no say in the war – should have their voices heard.