Gaza: How to survive a warzone. Produced by Hoyo Films available to watch on Vimeo
Gaza: How to survive a warzone. Produced by Hoyo Films available to watch on Vimeo

Banned by the BBC

Amnon Cohen, Camden and Haringey Socialist Party

Despite the extensive media coverage of the genocidal war in Gaza, very little has been shown about the daily lives of ordinary people enduring the relentless IDF bombardments. The documentary “How to Survive a Warzone” aimed to fill this gap, only to be taken off air and re-moved from BBC iPlayer just two days after its initial broadcast.

Narrated by 14-year-old Abdullah Al-Yazouri, the documentary presents the war from his perspective. Abdullah recounts the grim reality of life in a warzone with a deadpan, matter-of-fact tone. The film includes powerful footage of mass evacuations following IDF orders, where one woman is seen cursing Hamas and Yahya Al-Sinwar for suffering brought upon Gaza’s people. It also portrays life in the so-called “safe zone” of al-Mawasi, where Gazans were ordered to relocate by the IDF.

The documentary follows several children trying to navigate life amid the devastation. Eleven-year-old Zakaria volunteers at the last functioning hospital in Gaza. Ten-year-old Renad Attallah, despite the horrors surrounding her, continues producing a YouTube cooking channel with her sister. The film juxtaposes their daily struggles with glimpses of resilience, such as children enjoying rare moments of relaxation at the beach.

The documentary was removed from the BBC and iPlayer due to claims of Abdullah’s father being a deputy agriculture minister in Gaza’s Hamas government. However, critics have not challenged the film’s content, nor have they identified any factual inaccuracies. Several adult interviewees in the film express strong criticism of Hamas and its military wing, accusing them of bringing destruction upon Gaza while its leaders remain hidden in tunnels. The most sympathetic pro-Hamas statement comes from Rana, who voices her opinion that Hamas leader Sinwar died an honourable death fighting the occupation. Yet, even she condemns the kidnapping of civilians, stating: “We don’t want civilians to be hurt or die, from either side.”

The documentary captures the reaction of Gazans on the night Iran launched a missile barrage toward Israel, with some expressing satisfaction that, for once, Israelis were experiencing what they endure daily. However, the greatest celebrations occur on day 466 of the war when an announcement of a ceasefire sparks mass jubilation.

Devastating

The real reason for the film’s censorship is clear: it humanises the Palestinian people and presents the devastating effects of war in a deeply relatable way. Most opponents of the film avoid engaging with its content, choosing instead to vilify the narrator based on his parentage, as if that negates the brutal reality captured in the footage.

The documentary offers a rare glimpse into life under war in Gaza, highlighting the contradictions within its society. Abdullah concludes the film saying: “My greatest hope is that the ceasefire continues, and Gaza goes back to what it was before, or even better. But my biggest fear is that the war will return.”

Under capitalism, there is no prospect of a decent, safe life or lasting peace in Gaza or the wider Middle East. Capitalism means endless war, with Gaza being one of its most brutal battlegrounds. The film critiques Hamas, but it what is needed is an alternative: the building of workers’ parties in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and across the Middle East, fighting for socialist programmes. Only through such a movement can Abdullah, Zakaria, Rana, and the people of the region hope for a future free from poverty and war.