-
Gaza: filming an open wound

The Irish-Canadian production, directed by Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell, has rightly won plaudits for its poignant portrayal of ordinary lives that are stunted by Israel’s continuing blockade – itself a reflection of the hopelessness of the situation of Palestinians in general and the Gaza Strip in particular.
The Mediterranean, repeatedly photographed with a magnificent blood-red sun sinking into it, appears as a symbol of unattainable freedom to those who live in what is often described as the world’s largest open-air prison. Even fishermen operate within strict limits imposed by Israel.
Gaza’s history is bound up with key moments in the Arab-Israeli conflict: in 1948 it became home to tens of thousands of Palestinians who fled or were driven from their homes in the Nakba. The majority of the two million people who live there today are descendants of refugees.
Israel occupied the strip in the 1967 war and unilaterally withdrew its settlers and soldiers in 2005 – though it remains responsible for it under international law. Since Hamas won the Palestinian elections in 2006 there have been three wars. Hamas took over from Fatah the following year when Israel closed the borders and declared it an “enemy entity.”
Israel’s blockade is officially described as designed to stop the entry of materials - concrete, steel rods and industrial equipment that could be used to build bunkers or tunnels. But banned items have included lentils, pasta and other items on a constantly changing list.
The blockade has been aided, in different ways and at different times, by Egypt and the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, which is still at odds with Hamas despite many attempts at reconciliation. For the last two years Qatar has been transferring millions of dollars to Gaza every month, with the support of Israel and the United Nations, to prevent things from collapsing completely.
The film provides a bleak insight into the human cost of all this. The majority of Palestinians now live in poverty. Unemployment is 50%, electricity is available for just four hours a day and the water is largely undrinkable. The UN has predicted that the Gaza Strip will be uninhabitable by 2020 – now just weeks away! Most residents are unable to leave.
In addition, since March 2018, weekly “Marches of Return” have been held on the border. Initially launched by activists, these were quickly taken over by Hamas. Israeli army snipers have killed over 200 Palestinians who were mostly unarmed, though Israel describes them as terrorists seeking to enter its territory.
The UN and many governments have condemned the killings as disproportionate. Last week saw the first ever prosecution of an Israeli soldier for failing to follow orders. He was sentenced to one month in prison for killing a Palestinian teenager.
Collective punishments are routine. In late August, for example, Israel announced that it would cut by half the amount of fuel it permits to enter Gaza – used to generate electricity in the strip’s only power plant. The reduction was expected to harm the functioning of health and education systems, sewage disposal, water distribution and sanitation - all already on the verge of collapse.
Recently the World Health Organization published a report about access to medical treatment. In 2018, 39% of permit requests by Gazan patients were denied outright or delayed so much as to compel them to miss appointments for critically needed care. It also addressed the issue of companion permits for patients, which are increasingly difficult to secure, particularly for men aged 18-40. As a result, 1,821 children travelled for care outside the strip without their parents. Several babies died alone in an East Jerusalem hospital.
Hamas, of course, is not innocent: the Arabic acronym means the Islamic Resistance Movement. It fires rockets into Israel in breach of international law that bans targeting civilians. It also launches incendiary kites across the border, causing fires. Last week the Islamic Jihad movement, which is backed by Iran, fired 10 rockets across the border, leading to immediate retaliation by Israel.
Israel’s responses are intricately bound up with the country’s ongoing domestic political crisis – the failure to form a government after the second general election held this year.
Binyamin Netanyahu has been criticised for not acting decisively against Hamas – and doing so in order to perpetuate the debilitating division in Palestinian ranks, avoid Palestinian statehood and maintain the status quo. This fine new film provides a sad and touching glimpse of life for ordinary Gazans, who are astonishing in their resilience. It does not, however, offer any signs of hope about a way out of their predicament.
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!