A documentary filmed shortly after the 2014 Israeli-Hamas war

Directed by Hernan Zin

Originally released Dec. 12, 2014 (Spain)

Available on Netflix

Born in Gaza appeared as a Netflix recommendation shortly after Hamas started the current conflict. In what I think was a brilliant decision, the director, Hernan Zin (and perhaps others), decided to focus on 10 Palestinian children that had survived the war, but not without being witness to the death of friends and family members.

As these children go about their quotidian lives, they recount their recollections of the war and its deadly consequences. Understandably, they present Israel as the aggressor and the villain. But, eerily and importantly, they don’t convey any overt anger or hostility (the way you’d think they might had they been coached). They are clearly affected deeply by their experience, but their thoughts and emotions are not articulated.

As you might expect, there have been lots of recent internet postings about this film that try to label it as pro-Palestinian propaganda. It is unjustified criticism. Born in Gaza did not change my thoughts about Hamas and its role in the current war. What it did do, and very effectively, was leave me with a heightened sense of compassion and despair. The film says: “This is what they mean by war is hell.” But it doesn’t pretend to tell the viewer what to do about it.

You can watch the trailer here.