In the midst of the Gaza war, 11-year-old Zakaria finds himself volunteering at al-Aqsa hospital, one of the few operational medical facilities in the area. As sirens wail and ambulances arrive, he works tirelessly to assist paramedics, navigating through crowds to help transport victims of the relentless conflict. Despite his young age, Zakaria has seen the aftermath of countless tragedies, estimating that he has witnessed over 5,000 bodies since the war began.
The impact of war is starkly evident when he reflects on the loss of several friends. "I saw them burn," he recounts, underlining the disturbing reality for children in Gaza. Co-directed by Jamie Roberts and Yousef Hammash for a BBC documentary, "Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone," this film portrays the daily struggles and resilience of Gazans, particularly children attempting to survive the turmoil.
Over the course of nine months, the filmmakers managed to gather footage through local cameramen, including Amjad Al Fayoumi and Ibrahim Abu Ishaiba, as international journalists faced barriers in reporting from the ground. Their goal was to depict the stark realities facing Gazans—food scarcity, displacement, and the constant fear of violence.
Abdullah, a 13-year-old with dreams of continuing his education, narrates the film. Despite the chaos, he holds onto his lessons from a British school in Gaza. Meanwhile, 10-year-old Renad uses a different medium to cope; she hosts a cooking show on TikTok alongside her sister, despite limited access to ingredients, amassing a following of over a million users.
The film also features Rana, 24, who has been displaced multiple times and recently gave birth prematurely. Her story exemplifies the broader trauma experienced by families in Gaza, as they seek shelter near the hospital to care for their children amidst war.
Zakaria's commitment to helping at the hospital earns him respect from the staff, who create a small set of scrubs for him. His daily routine involves assisting medics, taking on responsibilities that most children wouldn't even fathom. In quieter moments, he helps clean ambulances, a reminder of the harrowing environment in which he exists.
Despite the disturbing realities, there are fleeting moments of normalcy; Said, a paramedic, tries to ensure Zakaria experiences childhood through outings to the beach, providing a brief escape from the harsh surroundings. Still, with each passing day, Zakaria grapples with the weight of his experiences, questioning how they may shape his future.
"I want to be a paramedic," he expresses, with an underlying desire to escape the violence. The film encapsulates the struggle and resilience of children amid chaos, highlighting their ability to find glimpses of hope even in the darkest circumstances. "Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone" airs on BBC Two and iPlayer, aiming to shed light on these haunting yet inspiring narratives of survival.
