Children in Gaza City, many traumatized by over two years of conflict, displacement, and the loss of homes and family members, are finding brief moments of joy and normalcy thanks to an innovative cinema initiative. Volunteers have set up makeshift movie screenings in displacement camps, providing Gaza’s youngest residents a rare opportunity to laugh, learn, and momentarily escape the hardships of daily life.

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Cinema Brings Relief Amid Ongoing Conflict

With schools heavily damaged or destroyed — 92 percent of educational institutions in Gaza are affected — and more than 55,000 children having lost one or both parents, opportunities for play and recreation are extremely limited. The initiative aims to fill this gap by offering children a safe environment to watch films, interact with peers, and temporarily leave behind the stress and trauma caused by Israel’s ongoing military operations.

Minass al-Jabour, media coordinator for the project, explained:

“We’re here trying to present so many activities for children to live in a positive vibe. We are helping them skip the hard scenes that they were living during the war in Gaza.”

For many children, these screenings are their first experience of cinema since the conflict escalated, offering moments of respite in the midst of devastation.

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Stories of Hope and Resilience

Sara Abu Sharbi, a displaced girl living in one of Gaza’s camps, shared her excitement:

“This is something new for me. I came out of the war, and they are giving us many activities, including cinema … and we really enjoyed it.”

The backdrop of these screenings often consists of makeshift tents and rubble-strewn streets, yet the children’s enthusiasm and engagement underscore the resilience of Gaza’s youth.

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The Role of Art in Healing

Palestinian filmmaker Mustafa al-Nabih, involved in the initiative, emphasized the importance of art and cinema for children living through conflict:

“A child who has seen so much blood and loss can, through cinema, glimpse a better reality. Cinema transports a child into a world of imagination, love, and beauty. It moves their mind, lets them reach for a distant horizon, and shows them colors, stories, and moments that take them out of the ruin around them.”

Al-Nabih believes that art is not just entertainment but a crucial tool for psychological relief, fostering hope, creativity, and emotional resilience among Gaza’s young population.

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The Humanitarian Context

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed at least 20,000 children and injured tens of thousands more, according to Gaza’s health authorities. Displacement and the destruction of schools and infrastructure have left children vulnerable to trauma, social isolation, and interrupted education.

In this context, community-led initiatives such as outdoor cinema screenings provide children with a much-needed sense of normalcy and mental respite. Volunteers hope that, through these activities, children can regain glimpses of joy and creativity despite the ongoing conflict.

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Conclusion

The makeshift cinema screenings in Gaza City exemplify how art and creativity can offer hope in war-torn regions. For children living amid destruction and loss, these initiatives provide more than entertainment — they offer emotional relief, a sense of community, and a window into a brighter, imaginative world beyond the devastation surrounding them.