My late Portuguese friend was a diplomat based in Toronto when I met him. He taught me many things and helped instill my love of Portugal. I last enjoyed his company in Estoril a decade ago and he had retired and we enjoyed a wonderful lunch on the boardwalk. He loved to say, “It’s complicated” with a keen political eye. And I will use this phrase to describe what is transpiring in Gaza.
At a time when Gaza was not lying in ruins Nour, a twenty year old Palestinian, is awarded a scholarship to Portland State University to study business administration. Whilst we Canadians can easily leave Canada and travel freely in most countries Nour plans for months to leave Gaza requiring Palestinian approval then either leave Gaza City through the Israeli crossing at Erez or at Rafah the Egyptian crossing. Nour suffers disappointments with hundreds of Palestinians trying to leave to pursue their dreams. Stifling bureaucracy at all levels enforcing the imprisonment of Palestinians with nowhere to go because they can’t leave their “prison”. Nour is finally successful at the edge of simply giving up but thousands of fellow Palestinians failed. Nour makes a telling statement saying she is only looking for a better place for opportunities and she wants to return to Gaza as a role model. Her aspirations would appear to be dated as who would want to return to the rubble? The drone shots show Gaza City in 2018 as a true massive city but today a pile of blood-soaked rubble.
Imagine the frustration of the many Nours and the increasing frustration of millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Can Israel ever “win” the war. Most likely it will but dashed expectations and disproportionate casualties justified by “hostages” wears thin. A huge new crop of extremists is being created.
Director Yassir Murtaja was shot and killed by an Israeli sniper while filming a demonstration in Gaza City on 6April2018. Co-director Rushdi Al-Sarraj was killed on 22October2023 by a targeted bomb from an Israeli jet dropped on his house.
RKS 2024 Film Rating: 90/100.
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