This extraordinary and brave documentary focuses on the the victims of the Gaze Genocide. It shows that medics are being targeted by the Israeli military, aiming weapons at men and women trying to heal people. The footage, frequently harrowing, shows courage, fear and the absurdity of war as it affects decent, hard-working people in real-time.
Karim Shah’s film exposes the Israeli Defence Forces as a cowardly organisation that deliberately targets the weakest and the most noble sections of society. What is depicted is often upsetting – the camera shakes because of the impact of the bombs, not because the director has instructed it to do so – and horrific, but vital viewing. Indeed, anything as many as 36 of Gaza’s hospitals have been attacked by Israeli officers.
As the movie stipulates many occasions throughout the course of the duration, health workers should be protected by international law. By aiming their missiles at them, they are drawing the ire of the world upon them. One doctor recalls with great sorrow the drone that was aimed at his house, killing a large number of his family. Moments later, the home was bombed once more. The savagery is inhuman.
It is extremely easy to discern from the footage that Israel performs works of abhorrent evil, masquerading their terror under the dubious terms of “self-defence”. Crucially, Gaza: Doctors Under Attack exposes children running for their lives. Some are injured, some weep; others deceased. These people didn’t sign up to combat a neighbouring country.
At another point, viewers witness what can only be pencilled as a gang rape. Soldiers corner one poor individual, positing themselves on the victim. Atrocities such as these needs to be aired in their integrity. Dr Adnan al-Bursh was “disappeared”, and does not pop up in the film. Some of the commentators wonder what happened to him. One conclusion is certain: he wasn’t deported from the area.
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack is a stunning work, not because it avoids the truth, but instead because it drenches the viewer in it. What is on display is hard-hitting and unvarnished. War is dirty, but no argument can protect Israel from this horrendous attacks. This is one of 2025’s must sees.
The BBC were supposed to air this work, but on the 20th of June the corporation changed its mind. In a statement, it was decreed: “Yesterday it became apparent that we have reached the end of the road with these discussions. We have come to the conclusion that broadcasting this material risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC”. Clearly, dying children do not align with the television’s standards.
You can watch Gaza: Doctors Under Attack with Channel 4 for free now by clicking here.
