As the threat of an Israeli ground assault on Gaza’s last ‘safe zone’ grows, two children in Rafah are preparing for the worst. 11-year-old Husam expresses his fear of people resorting to violence for food as he struggles to secure basic necessities in the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Alongside over 600,000 other children seeking refuge in Rafah, Husam faces the looming possibility of a military invasion, causing a deep sense of fear and uncertainty.
Despite the challenges, Husam shows his ingenuity by creating a makeshift electrical system using scrap market finds to provide light in his family’s tent. On the other hand, nine-year-old Najwa copes with a mix of fear and determination, finding solace in drawing and playful imaginings.
As global leaders urge Israel to avoid invading Rafah due to the humanitarian crisis facing civilians, it is children like Husam and Najwa who hold onto the dream of a peaceful future. In the words of Husam, they simply want to live in freedom and safety like children elsewhere in the world. The short film “No Refuge for Rafah’s Children” captures the challenges faced by Gaza’s children as the threat of conflict looms.