The film will also be available in Arabic on the BBC News Arabic YouTube channel.
BBC World Service investigative unit, BBC Eye, in collaboration with BBC Storyville, has announced a new film, which delves into the personal experiences of Gazans living through the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
Titled Life and Death in Gaza, the documentary follows the lives of four Gazans—Khalid, Aya, Adam and Aseel—as they document their own survival and the impact of the conflict on their families and community.
The 90-minute film, which captures the first year of the war, will premiere on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday, October 15, at 9 pm. It will also be available internationally on the BBC World Service YouTube channel, and in Arabic on the BBC News Arabic YouTube channel.
Filmed from the onset of the war and over several months, Life and Death in Gaza offers an intimate portrayal of life under siege, weaving self-shot footage with scenes filmed by other ground reporters. The documentary captures a range of experiences, from bombings and evacuations to family separations, loss, and even the birth of a new life amidst the chaos. Through these personal stories, the film sheds light on resilience, hope, and the human toll of the conflict.
Speaking about the film, Emma Hindley, Commissioning Editor, BBC Storyville, said: “While we may have seen news reports about the Israel-Gaza conflict over the past year, we rarely hear from the ordinary citizens in Gaza. This unique film brings us Gaza as you’ve never seen it before through the eyes of those living there.”
Fiona Crack, Controller, BBC Languages, added: “Life and Death in Gaza brings audiences in the Middle East and around the world closer to the frontline of the conflict through intimate human stories. Our BBC Eye and BBC Arabic teams have worked to provide an unflinching picture of everyday Gazan life during these extraordinary times.”
The documentary features the lives of four Palestinians—Khalid, Aya, Adam and Aseel—each facing challenges amidst the war in Gaza.
Khalid, a physiotherapist and father of five, remains in the besieged north of Gaza despite Israeli orders to evacuate. With hospitals destroyed and his clinic in ruins, he turns his home into a makeshift medical centre, performing surgeries without anaesthetic. His youngest children, Hamoud and Halloum, adapt to the harsh realities of war, playing surgeons with their dolls and helping rebuild their bomb-damaged home.
Aya, a recent law school graduate and women’s rights advocate, sees her future unravel when her family is forced to flee their home in central Gaza, which is later destroyed. They take refuge in a UN school, turning classrooms into makeshift bedrooms. Despite the hardships, Aya and her sister Noor find moments of joy, but their resilience is continually tested as they are relocated again to tents in the south.
Adam, a youth worker, is evacuated with his younger sisters while their father is hospitalised. After his father dies, Adam takes responsibility for his siblings, Saja and Shaimaa. During a ceasefire, they visit the ruins of their home, and Adam decides to try to get his sisters out of Gaza. Through their journey, the documentary exposes the corrupt industry that profits from Gaza’s suffering.
Aseel, a young, pregnant mother, is displaced from the north with her toddler, Rose, while her husband, Ibrahim, a photographer, documents the devastation. Separated for weeks, they both live in constant fear for each other’s safety. As Aseel’s due date approaches, they struggle to find a hospital that can safely deliver their baby. Their daughter, Hayat—meaning “life” in Arabic—is born amidst the chaos, and the family is constantly on the move, trying to keep their children safe in a war-torn landscape.
Life and Death in Gaza is part of a series of BBC programmes marking the anniversary of the Israel-Gaza conflict, including the BBC Storyville documentary Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again on September 26, a Panorama special on October 7, and extensive news coverage across BBC platforms. Further programming details will be announced soon.
