Check It Out:

Documentary Film Killing Gaza

May 21, 2018 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

From a reader:

The documentary Killing Gaza premiered recently at Revolution Books in New York City. The bookstore hosted an emergency screening in response to the recent clashes in Gaza. After President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the consequent relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv, Gaza experienced its deadliest day in recent years.

Dan Cohen and Max Blumenthal document the 2014 Gaza War. The film captures both the resilience and despair of its inhabitants. The gray cityscape of toppled buildings is a reminder that its inhabitants live in the world's largest open-air prison.

Each death is a tragedy. We watch as a young man is repeatedly shot, until he dies, while he is in search of his injured cousin. We watch explosions at a distance as Israeli murderers laugh in the background. We watch as life goes on in the aftermath.

The film is a testimony of the Gazan people, not simply as victims but as human beings. It lets the people tell the story in a way only they can.

There is a particular scene where a man confronts the filmmakers. He condemns the United States for backing Israel financially as Israel wages war on Gaza. He claims that sending food will not justify the suffering of his people. The hypocrisy of a nation masquerading as a hero does nothing for the little boy who saw his father and uncle die.

He voices the agony many survivors face but may be too diffident to vocalize on camera. This is not a sit-down interview with a grieving family. It's a candid moment when the interviewee speaks his unfettered opinion. His anger is as compelling as his truth.

Ultimately, Killing Gaza tells a part of a story that still has yet to end. The film's relevance speaks to the urgency of the current situation. Gazans are still living in limbo. They have electricity for a few hours a day. Almost half of the population is unemployed. An alarming majority of the youth suffer from PTSD. The situation remains dire.

So check this out:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/killinggaza

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