Love and war

Love and war

Animationfilm workshops in Gaza. Rasmi Damo and FEKRA (Mohammed Saleh, Alaa Damo in Gaza)

“Love and war – Animation workshop Gaza

Collective work 2025, Palestine, 4’45min

A “making of” film, about kids in Gaza making an animated movie about life ad their fears in Gaza during the war. The animation film made during the workshop comes at the end: “Love and war”.

Made by kids in Gaza:

Jourie Abu Al-Kas, Saba Abu Al-Ata, Aya Abu Mahdi, Aseel Ashour, Talin Abu Eid, Aya Ashour, Suzan Al- Sheikh, Mohammad Abu Khalil, Maysoun Al-Arr, Ahmad Abu Samsoum, Moataz Bakhit, Basmala Al_Shuwaikh, Hala Al- Zayan, Waad Al-Arr, Rimas Abu Mahdi, Rahaf Farwana, Batoul Abu Freih, Sara Abu Khalil, Basma Abu Al-Ka, Marwa Al-Arr, Arwa Al-Arr,

Jourie Bakhit, Rimas Abu Alkas, Suhair Sayed, Rahaf Abu Alkas, Aya Abu Alkas, Nour Abu Alkas, Majda Samsoum, Riham Abu Freij, Sajoud Abu Khalil, Hanin Abu Khalil, Yasmine Abu Dahrouj, Dana Abu Khalil, Raghad Bakhit, Haya Abu Mahadi, Layan Zayed, Marwaft Samsoum, Zahraa Alnabaheen, Zeina Zayed

 Animators: Mohammed Saleh, DOP/editing: Alaa Damo, Artistic supervisor: Rasmi Damo

Film title: “Love and War”

Amid the devastation of war in Gaza, Love and War follows a Palestinian family who chooses generosity over fear. With resources running out and danger all around, the father shares the last of their flour with neighbors, trusting that goodness will return. His wife and children stand by his decision, embracing hope over survival instinct.

When their own food runs out, their kindness is repaired, another family offers them a small amount of flour. They bake bread and, once again, choose to share it.

The film explores how compassion, solidarity, and cultural identity endure through hardship. A traditional Palestinian folk song underscores the message: unity and shared values are a form of resistance, and humanity survives when love leads the way.

Find out more: FEKRA FRANCE

Stills:

About the mentors

Rasmi Damo is Director General at ‎Fekra Arts Institute. Rasmi Damo, Palestinian from Gaza, holding BA in nursing and a Diploma in arts therapy and professional training on Arts Performance and cultural activities. Over the last 20 years,he directed several animation short films. He is pioneered ground-breaking animation and creative art projects for children who had witnessed bombings, murder, warfare, displacement, imprisonment, and violence that children should never be witness to. Since  2001 he created and managed a theatre company, curated cultural events, wrote animation films and produced political theatre in Gaza. In 2016 he produced an animation book, which illustrates his experience of using animation film techniques and methodology to achieve social healing. In 2020 he created and managed a culture company in France to contribute to challenges faced by migrant children in Europe, using animation films educational methodology.

Fekra

Who are we – story

Fekra – means idea.

We are an arts and theatre organization that has been supporting freedom, peace, child rights and the creative arts in Gaza since 2001. We support ideas, we support children, we support freedom.

Through our art, through our imagination – we can express hope and love. We believe art can heal children, the connections made through the telling of stories and communicating about trauma, children can pave a way back to themselves, to find joy, to find hope. To be resilient. Children can begin to handle all the mess and devastation that is happening around them – the mess created by adults.

We started as a theatre organization. We ran Gaza’s only independent theatre until it was closed down in 2012. Our director and playwright, Rasmi Damo, wrote and presented plays of immense courage. His plays have bold and powerful messages. They promote women’s rights, Fekra put women on the stage in an increasingly conservative and patriarchal environment during the rise of Hamas. Rasmi wrote courageous satirical works illuminating the hypocrisies of the violent forces influencing the people of Gaza – Hamas, Fateh, Israel, and America. His bold work questioned interpretations of Islam, Christianity and human rights in an environment where questions were not tolerated, where subordination to authority was tantamount to survival.

Beyond the theatre, for more than 20 years, Fekra Arts Institute used art and creativity to oppose war, conflict and violence. Fekra curated cultural events, wrote and produced songs, dance, animation films and implemented a groundbreaking stop motion animation program that supported the healing of children. Fekra received funding from international donors, the UN and international NGOs. It grew to an organization of 20 artists and administrators. Rasmi’s life’s work has been to use art and performance to expand the mind and soul, to heal, to build community and promote peace.

In 2018 Rasmi was forced to flee Gaza when threats to his life made it unsafe for him and his family. His work was too controversial, his art was too confronting. He now lives in France with his three children and wife. But his wider family, the twenty artists and animators that made up Fekra Arts Institute live on in Gaza.

Why art, why theatre? How can it possibly help children in Gaza right now?

The money raised will support the ongoing activity in Gaza. We create stop gap animation films, or small plays. These processes have been tried and tested during and after each and every invasion of Gaza over the past 20 years.  Fekra did it following Israel’s Operation cast lead – the 2008-9 invasion of our country; after Israel’s operation pillar of Defense’ – their 2012 invasion of Gaza; after ‘operation Protective Edge’ – Israel’s 2014 invasion of Gaza; after their Operation Black Belt’ – the 2019 invasion. We are doing it now amidst Israel’s attempted genocide of Gaza – we will continue after all the failures of all the politicians and soldiers.

During the process of telling their stories, children find comfort in one another, they share, they play, they laugh, they cry. They learn new skills and they make something they are proud of. Showing it to their families and the world gives them voice, gives their story freedom. The stories are often harrowing. It does not change the circumstances of their suffering, but it frees their mind – for a moment or more. It is a powerful process.

The children of Gaza need everything right now… The situation is overwhelming. Their homes have been destroyed, many of their parents, friends and loved ones murdered, their schools and hospitals demolished, they are hungry and thirsty, they are scared. They have no hope.

In times of conflict and war, you are often defined by what you are not. So let us start there – Fekra are not politicians with the power to end the war; Fekra aren’t aid workers trying to bring in life saving food and supplies; Fekra aren’t doctors nor nurses with the clinical skills needed to heal broken bodies. Fekra are not fighters with guns to fight. Fekra is not hungry for money or power. Fekra is, literally, an idea. Fekra trades in ideas – ideas of peace, love, humanity, joy, laughter. Fekra doesn’t want anything for the children and people of Gaza but to let them live and be free. Fekra are story tellers and artists. Fekra are brave courageous humans living in the worst of times trying to plant flowers in the minds of children ravaged by war and hatred.

What we know is that children need to find ways to tell their stories, to process their pain, to make sense of their losses, to find hope, to smile again. Children need art, they need creativity, they need to engage with their imagination – now more than ever – to escape the horrors they see every day.

OTHER WORK BY FEKRA IN GAZA

Our Story

Collective work 2015, Palestine, 6’52’’

The story is set in traditional village in Palestine. We follow the palestinian people, from their expulsion from the land in 1948 in the Nakba, displacement in tents, and the separation from their land by the Apartheid wall. The film shows cultural and people´s resistance in the face of war and occupation. Technique: cutout.

Teams:

Directed by Rasmi Damo.

Cast: Story by children:

Hala Abu Linda

Lubna Al – Shourafa

Yousef Ibrahim

Aya Abu Shahla

Amro  Abu Shahla

Mohammed Abu Zaher

Abed ElRahman Damo

Yafa Al- Mashrwai

Story Editor: Suhail Al- Salmi

Painter: Jameel El- Geeg

Animators: Emad Zaqut, Khames Mashharawi

Editor: Mohammed Al-Khaldi

Mixing: Ahmed Al-Khaldi

Music selection: Nedal Damo, Mohammed Saleh

Song lyrics: Ibrahim Musain

Mong melodies: Moneim Adwan

Singer: Rola Srour

Director: Rasmi Damo