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 (W/T) 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.
Jamie Roberts, Co-Director HOYO Films, says: “Foreign journalists have not been permitted to go independently into Gaza to report since the start of the war. We’re proud to have made what we believe to be the only truly observational film in Gaza during the conflict. This film gained access during an historic period in time, a testament to our team in London and Gaza who’ve worked tirelessly to bring this dramatic and complex film to screen."
Jamie Roberts and Yousef Hammash remotely directed two Gazan cameramen - Amjad Al Fayoumi and Ibrahim Abu Ishaiba - over nine months, gaining access to key locations out of reach to foreign press. 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 permanent functioning hospital, 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 and they attempt to go about normal life - cooking, relaxing at the beach, organising weddings and, in the case of Rana, giving birth. With the recent agreement of a ceasefire, they look forward to a future after the war.
Jo Carr, Head of BBC Current Affairs, says: “The attack of October 7th and subsequent events in Gaza have dominated the news for over a year. It’s a story of immense consequence, and I am delighted that Jamie and Yousef have found a way to bring this unique insight to our audiences.”
The documentary will tx on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in mid February.
About the contributors
Abdullah and his family were forced to evacuate their home when the war started, and he now lives in a tent in the south of the safe-zone. With food and water scarce and no schools to attend, he tries to make sense of the conflict and his new reality. He dreams of the day he can return to school and take his exams.
The youngest contributor Renad is only 10 years old. She produces her own online cooking show to distract herself from the war. She records videos on her roof whilst bombs land nearby, missiles fly overhead, and her family are threatened with evacuation. She has built a community from all over the world who engage with her videos. Her goal is to reach one million followers.
Zakaria, 11, dreams of being a paramedic and works ad-hoc at Al-Aqsa hospital under the mentorship of a senior paramedic. He helps to save lives by bringing the wounded into A&E, but worries that his mentor could soon be killed. Hustling to make ends meet, Zakaria is currently the only person earning any money in his family, so it’s down to him to support them.
Rana is 24. Her husband was released from prison when the war started, but they parted ways not long after they were reunited. Rana will have the baby and raise their two sons by herself . She is living in a camp near the hospital where danger lurks in every direction.
Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone (W/T) is the second documentary from HOYO Films for the BBC, in association with All3Media International. It follows the critically acclaimed documentary Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods broadcast on BBC Two in 2024. All3Media International is global partner.
The Commissioning Editors for the BBC are Gian Quaglieni, Current Affairs and Sarah Waldron, This World. It is co-directed by Jamie Roberts and Yousef Hammash and is Executive Produced by Jonathan Smith and edited by Kate Spankie. HOYO Films is a London based independent production company that makes agenda setting films that focus on people at the centre of international stories.
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Update 21 February 2025: In light of continuing questions since the transmission of this programme, the BBC has published an updated statement on our Corrections and Clarifications page explaining the film will not be available on iPlayer while we conduct further due diligence with the production company.