The Gaza Strip is 28 miles long, and 3-7 miles wide with a population of 1.7 million. In January 2009 Israel’s army and air force invaded Gaza in an incursion called “Operation Cast Lead” which is also known as “The Gaza Massacre” where three weeks of shelling and experiments with flesh melting white phosphorus resulted in 1,417 deaths a mere scratch for the Palestinian body count in 2023 but a portent of today’s unpleasantries.
What gained international recognition was the story of a Palestinian family, the Samouni family in the farming district of Zeitoun heavily hit and occupied by the IDF. Preteen Amal Samouni recounts the execution of her father and brother by the IDF in front of their house. The extended Samouni family, 100 of them, took refuge in a house receiving assurances from the IDF they would not be shelled but they were killing 21 members and the survivors including Amal were trapped under the rubble for 3 days as the IDF prevented ambulances and rescue efforts from reaching the collapsed house. Amal has numerous pieces of shrapnel in her head too dangerously located to undergo surgery.
Interviews with survivors, many children, a former United Nations official, Palestinian paramedics and a volunteer Norwegian doctor Dr. Mads Gilbert point to egregious Israeli IDF behaviour with a U.N. report, The Goldstone Report concluding Israel forces committed war crimes during Operation Lead Cast. The Goldstone Report was later partially retracted with the objections of some of the committee members that wrote the report.
Horrific hospital scenes of terror, fury, maimed bodies including those of little children. Street scenes show the instant destruction of buildings by Israeli missiles and bombs.
It is the view of Dr. Gilbert the massacre was the result of the international community failing to insist upon a political solution instead of permitting a military resolution.
The Samouni children drew pictures for the animated sequences that punctuate various segments of the documentary.
Matters in Gaza now are far worse but will now be the time that a political solution is demanded by the international community. Yes the hostage taking by Hamas militants is inexcusable amounting to war crimes but the retaliation by Israel has been disproportionate.
You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMApvqrQeO4
RKS 2024 Documentary Film Rating: 90/100.
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