Award winning film The Voice of Hind Rajab

[Thedawnchorus]

Has anyone on here watched the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” which won multiple awards at the Venice Film Festival and had the longest standing ovation in history. I really want to watch it but am worried it will be too upsetting. If anyone has seen it, is it really going to be as heartbreaking to watch as I suspect or will I be able to handle it. I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to really harrowing films.

I haven’t seen it either but I’m guessing it is absolutely harrowing.

I’m just about managing to update this thread each day:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/5383956-one-child-a-day-remembering-gazas-children?page=1

I agree that it might be beyond what I could handle. I found the news feed at the time bad enough. I need to ask though, is your list real? If it is that is horrendous.

Yes, unfortunately. I try to verify using multiple sources. It’s the tip of the iceberg.

“If this is too heavy I understand.” Yes it is! Why don’t we see those pictures on the news? I know Hind is real but are you sure the others are? I’m sorry but I do need to ask. Are you sure your sources are true?

Nearly 20,000 children have been killed.

https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2024/israel-war-on-gaza-10000-children-killed/

I try to cross check each post against verified casualty records and local reports (from places like The Daily File, OCHA, and Defense for Children International- Palestine).

It is heavy- unbearably so.

I’ve heard so much from both sides I don’t know what to believe. I hate to imagine that children are suffering on this level. The Israeli government says it warns people to move before they bomb. If that is true, why are so many children being killed?

It’s a fact that so many children have died.

That’s a fair question- it’s one I’ve asked myself many times.

In practice, those “warnings” often come minutes (or even seconds) before strikes, or to areas where there’s nowhere safe left to go. Many of the children I’ve posted about were killed in places designated as safe zones -schools, UN shelters, even hospitals.

Warnings don’t help when every road, home and shelter is being bombed. That’s why so many children have died.

You have done so well with that scrupulous checking, thank you.

It’s just heartbreaking. Will anyone ever be made accountable for this? It doesn’t bring them back but I can’t bear the thought that their lives aren’t seen as worthy of justice

There’s also that quote by a leader of the opposition who said something about Israel killing babies as a hobby. That was pretty damning.

Where could they have moved to? Every time they moved to a supposedly “safe zone” they get bombed either on the way there or when they arrive.

I don’t think I can face watching the film, I get so stressed and upset at what has been done in Gaza as it is. But I’m so glad they made the film.

Why was it “pretty damning” when “killing babies as a past time” was just the disgusting opinion of one politician in opposition who was a long time enemy of Netanyahu? That statement was labelled blood libel.

It was said at the same time by Tom Fletcher from the UN that about 14,000 babies would die in Gaza over the next 48 hours from malnutrition.

Another lie endlessly repeated.

The reason I thought it was damning was because he is an Israeli politician. I don’t see why he would say such a thing about his own country if it wasn’t true.

A clue is in the fact that he is in opposition to Netanyahu and a long time political enemy.

It was an anti semitic thing to say in my opinion, and yes Jewish people can be anti semitic.

People also doubted that Tom Fletcher would repeat lies as the UN is supposed to be neutral, but he did.

I have no idea how many children have died from famine so I really can’t comment on what he said. I do know a lot of reputable organizations have said there is famine in Gaza but I have no idea of the numbers. I have heard it said that 25% of the population are struggling with famine but I can’t verify that.

I get that the opposition leader might hate Netanyahu and so attack him personally but I really don’t see how he would attack the reputation of his own country by lying about something like that. That just doesn’t make sense when there are so many other things he could have said to attack the government which would be true.

This thread is not about famine so I don't want to get into a big debate about that.

Just wanted to point out that it's incredibly offensive to Jewish people to suggest that "Israel kills babies as a hobby" and just because someone else said something similar first, that doesn't make it ok to repeat.

As for the film this thread is about, I'm afraid I have to join you all in saying I haven't watched it either. Neither have I watched the Israeli documentary film about 7/10 - not sure if any of you have?

I feel a bit of a coward about it, but I can't face watching things that are bound to be heart breaking. So much pointless death & horror on both sides.

I can't watch these films either @Twiglets1. Watching real people suffering in distress or worse just isn't something I could voluntarily watch.
The pictures on the news are bad enough for me.

Sorry but I’m not the one who brought up famine. I actually have a very close Jewish friend who knows much more about this subject than I do and who is very much against Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. She has been for many years, even before October 7th. She was the one who told me about the film and has told me on many occasions that she effectively finds it “offensive” that her religion is being conflated with what Israel is doing. I’m sorry but multiple sources have said that Israeli soldiers are purposely killing children even though Israel denies it. I try to keep an open mind and listen to both sides but I have to say that, from my perspective, the reports of children being targeted seem true. Whether this is deliberate policy or just some renegade soldiers, I have no idea. At the end of the day, it’s exactly what this film is all about.

You were the person who introduced what a particular politician said and I could not allow that offensive comment made by him and repeated by you to go unchallenged.

Given the highly sensitive nature of the thread title, however, I don't want to divert from talking about the film. Other things you are bringing up have been talked about in depth on other threads and still can be for anyone who wants to engage in general Israel bashing. I thought the purpose of this thread was to discuss the film The Voice of Hind Rajab.

You are right, the post was supposed to be about the film but I suppose as the film is about targeting a child and no one seems to have seen it yet, we weren’t really too far off topic. Hopefully someone who has seen it will comment soon as I’m still not sure I’ll be able to watch it.

Hi op, I’ve seen it. I cry at every film i watch, quite literally, but I didn’t actually cry that much, as it doesn’t use music to play on your emotions, it’s just the facts. Very emotional, not in a cathartic way, it left me with a heaviness in the pit of my stomach. But we have a responsibility not to look away.

I wouldn't watch this. I wouldn't watch anything about 7 October either. Since having kids I literally cannot bear watching anything with violence towards children. I struggle to read about it too, but do try to keep up to date with news. I never, ever read details about child abuse cases. I feel its somehow voyeuristic, almost like emotional tourism.

I know there are those on here who feel somehow that we mustn't look away, we must bear witness. I think looking directly at the horror some humans inflict directly on other humans brings such deep, instinctual emotions that it can cloud clear, rational thinking. Its enough to know horrors have been / are being commited by both sides without chosing to wallow in that emotional pain. Its enough for me to know that hatred exists on both sides without directly viewing the consequences of that hatred.

Over empathy with one side means under empathy with the other- another thing I'd like to try to avoid.

Thank you so much for your response. I didn’t think about the music issue but I get what you mean. You are absolutely right though. I think it is something that I should watch. Apparently the actual footage which we heard on the news is included. I’m really not sure how I’m going to feel hearing her voice pleading for her life again. I have a feeling a stiff brandy is going to be needed afterwards.

I understand what you mean. I feel the same but at the same time I think I owe it to my friend who recommended it to watch it. I kind of feel I would be a coward if I didn’t.