Hamas turns to movies in war of words
Published 22 September, 2008, 05:15
Edited 22 September, 2009, 07:30
Given economic sanctions, closed borders and suspended humanitarian aid, the last thing you'd expect the Palestinian government to do would be to pump money into the movie industry. But that's exactly what the leaders of
The Jabalia camp in Gaza looks like an abandoned village. But it could become Hamas's own Hollywood. A former Israeli settlement vacated three years ago under the dismantlement programme, it was recently turned into a movie set for the production of Palestinian films.
The managing director of the project, Abdel Salyam Nasr, said they'd spent some time searching for the right place, and finally found it.
“It was necessary to build both an information centre and an arts quarter, where we could make films and shows which would reflect the Palestinian Problem,” Nasr said.
The Islamist Group Hamas took control of Gaza in June 2007 after ousting the Fatah party. International sanctions followed, including suspension of humanitarian aid by the UN and the EU, and the closure of the border with Israel.
In response, Hamas boosted its ideological struggle. Last year, the movement's leaders announced a 200-million-dollar plan to build a media city and film production house.
The movie currently in production is dedicated to Imad Aql – the first commander of Hamas's military wing, born in Jabalia.
The film will bear his name, but the creators say it’s also about Palestinian society and relations with Israel.
“Imad Aql is a legend for the Palestinians. As a Palestinian, I feel I must put up resistance on all our lands that have been occupied. I think this man is a true fighter against the Zionist occupation, a fighter who resists till the very end,” director Madzhid Dzhundia says.
The crew say they want to show the dramatic side of Palestinian history, something they believe will help the resistance.
“In the future, I would like to make a film about other resistance leaders, such as Lahia Lash. I also want to make a film about the operation carried out by Anvar Sukhar and Salakh Shakir. And about the operation that took place in the Palestinian territories in 1995,” Dzhundia added.
Moviemaking is just one part of the project. There are also plans to build an amusement park, graphics studios, gardens and ponds.
discuss it
