11 February 2004 (2004-02-11) (Berlin International Film Festival)
25 May 2004 (2004-05-25) (United Kington (Channel 4))
12 August 2004 (2004-08-12) (United States)
Running time
80 minutes
Languages
Arabic English Hebrew
Death in Gaza is a 2004 British Channel 4 documentary film screened on 25 May 2004[1] about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, opening in the West Bank but then moving to Gaza and eventually settling in Rafah where the film spends most of its time. It concentrates on three children, Ahmed (age 12), Mohammed (age 12), and Najla (age 16), and includes the murder by Israeli forces of the film's producer/director James Miller.[2]
Topics
Children
The film follows the children in different aspects of their lives including life in the vicinity of military forces and games born out of the conflict – such as running towards, throwing rocks and homemade explosives, quwas, at armored vehicles; Study materials in schools which focus on Palestinian perceptions of the conflict, as well as time spent with family and friends, including following one of the children as he plays with and helps militant fighters. The film also makes note of the political use of public mourning for conflict enhancement.
Martyrdom
For a short while the film concentrates on martyrdom and the opinions of the people there about dying for Palestine and Islam. It briefly tells the story of a young boy who was shot while attacking Israeli forces much like the main boys Ahmed and Mohammed, as well as numerous other unnamed boys. The film follows the boy from being brought into the medical center and the initial treatment, to his death and public reaction, to the parade and his burial, and celebration at his success in becoming a martyr.
James Miller's death
While filming, producer/director James Miller was killed by an Israeli soldier.[3] His death was incorporated as a major part of the film, with an explanation by the narrator, Saira Shah, at the beginning of the film, and the full story and reactions at the end. It is mentioned that, against the film crew's wishes, Palestinian people made posters declaring that Miller was a martyr.[4] A British inquest jury in April 2006 returned a verdict that Miller had been murdered.[5]
