On September 3rd, the 82nd Venice Film Festival saw the premiere of a film based on the true story of a six-year-old girl who lived in the Gaza Strip. This film was awarded the Silver Lion (Grand Jury Prize). While the film received the award, the protagonist, the girl 'Hind Rajab,' could not possibly know it. At the screening, the audience gave a standing ovation for 23 minutes and 50 seconds—a new, possibly unbreakable record in this field. The atmosphere was overcome with tears and outrage. The film was screened again on September 7th at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada.
The 89-minute film, 'The Voice of Hind Rajab,' directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, reconstructs the horrific events of January 29, 2024. Six-year-old Hind Rajab was the only survivor in a car attacked by an Israeli tank while her family was fleeing. Trapped in the wrecked vehicle, Rajab desperately called the rescue services, begging to be saved.
Many people were fleeing the Israeli ground offensive in Gaza City. Satellite images show that the vehicle Rajab was in crashed less than 400 meters from its starting point. Rajab miraculously survived the initial impact and called the rescuers. "I'm so scared. Please come. You are coming to rescue me, aren't you?" The three-hour conversation ended with the sound of gunfire. Twelve days after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew, Rajab was found dead inside the car. The film includes the actual recording of the phone call. This is a clear fact. It is murder.
As the film ended, the audience shouted "Free Palestine!" and some waved the Palestinian flag. 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' will likely be heard by almost everyone around the world. It is creating an echo millions of times louder than the gunshots that claimed Rajab's life.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other armed groups launched a deadly ground and rocket attack on southern Israel, to which the Israeli military responded with airstrikes and ground operations. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip. The conflict, spanning nearly two years, has resulted in over 145,000 injuries, the majority of whom are women and children. Over 2 million Palestinian residents are cut off from water, food, and medical services. People are starving to death, making it a chaotic hellscape. Of the 255 people taken hostage by Hamas, 20 survivors are still being held captive. Israel's will is resolute and firm.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has witnessed the catastrophic situation in Gaza firsthand and continues to provide essential support, including clean water, cash assistance, early childhood education, and protection, despite the terrible safety issues. They urge all parties to comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians and vital infrastructure, and immediately scale up humanitarian aid within Gaza. From a humanitarian perspective, a ceasefire is the best way to fully protect the lives of Palestinian residents, secure the release of hostages, and enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
In 1947, the UN resolved the partition plan for Palestine, allocating territory to Jews and Arabs respectively. However, due to subsequent wars and occupation, the Palestinian right of return and self-determination have not been realized. Israel has expanded settlements, citing security and survival. Israel plans to make the occupied Gaza Strip safe(?). They seek to secure it from Hamas. The United States also supports Israel.
In the fight between Hamas and Israel, only the Palestinian residents are dying. In a world where people gain weight from overeating and spend money on weight loss and treating adult diseases, how can we address this human-made disaster (in-jae) where people are starving to death? I pray that the death of Hind Rajab will create a Butterfly Effect, transforming the land into one flowing with milk and honey. Heaven, help us!
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