28 Jan 2025

Channel 4 announces new streaming documentary ‘This Is Gaza’ from Emmy-winning news team in Gaza

‘This is Gaza’ follows the emotional journey of filmmaker Yousef Hammash, caught in the crossfire of a war and a humanitarian catastrophe whilst reporting from inside Gaza.

‘This is Gaza’ follows the emotional journey of filmmaker Yousef Hammash, caught in the crossfire of a war and a humanitarian catastrophe whilst reporting from inside Gaza.

A new documentary for Channel 4 Streaming exposes the raw reality of the conflict and the extraordinary work of Palestinian journalists inside the Gaza strip, with never before seen footage.

The 50-minute special, presented by Channel 4 News, is a devastating portrait of life and survival in the besieged territory – before, during, and after the seismic events of October 7th – told through the eyes of Palestinian journalist-turned-refugee Yousef Hammash.

Yousef and the Channel 4 News team were awarded the prestigious Emmy and Bafta Awards for reporting the Israel-Hamas war through Yousef’s work and teams on the ground, who he then directed remotely after he was displaced in April 2024.

In ‘This is Gaza’, Yousef, who has spent years reporting from the Gaza Strip, steps out from behind the camera for the first time. Watching back his footage, he charts his family’s displacement and the heartbreaking decision to leave his home as he travels south to Rafah.

Foreign journalists have been restricted independent access to Gaza since October 7th. Yousef has since emerged as one of the most definitive Palestinian voices of our time. With footage from areas international reporters cannot access, this film examines the challenges faced by journalists reporting under bombardment, where the constant threat of violence, political turmoil, and censorship put their lives at risk.

Ed Fraser, Executive Producer, says: “Through a mix of intimate interviews, breathtaking and never-before-seen footage from within Gaza, and intimate moments captured on the road to his departure, this film about Yousef’s reporting reveals a deeply human story told from the heart.”

Yousef’s early reporting in the wake of October 7th, broadcast by Channel 4 News, sparked global outrage, and made him and his family a target. After six months reporting on the conflict Yousef was displaced.

The film is produced for Channel 4 Streaming, executive produced by Ed Fraser and Girish Juneja and directed by Tom Besley.

About ‘This is Gaza’

The story begins with the rhythm of everyday life in Gaza, where joy is hard-earned and communities thrive despite restrictions. From scenes of family gatherings, including Yousef’s own wedding, and bustling streets, to the quiet dreams of a man who finally bought a house by the sea, this is a Gaza the world rarely sees — full of humanity, humour, and hope.

But everything changes on October 7th. The horrific Hamas-led attack on Israel, which left 1200 Israelis dead and those captured hostage, triggers an unprecedented Israeli military response, and Yousef’s life collapses in an instant.  Armed with only his camera, Yousef documents the destruction and chaos, capturing the raw reality of Gaza’s collective trauma.

With haunting scenes of children pulled from rubble, families torn apart, and a population forced into endless displacement, this film does not end with resolution but with an unanswered question: “What next?” For Yousef, for the children of Gaza, and for the world watching, the future remains uncertain. But his camera never stops. As Yousef puts it, “I have a duty towards what’s going on in Gaza, and my duty is to keep the story told.”

As Yousef is forced to leave behind family, friends, and colleagues, the film raises critical questions about the role of media in shaping narratives about war, the ethical dilemmas journalists face in bearing witness to war when their very survival becomes uncertain, and the personal price of leaving a place that has been both home and battlefield.

‘This is Gaza’ airs on Channel 4 Streaming from Wednesday 29 January.

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