At just 11 years old, Zakaria resides in Gaza. He estimates that he has witnessed thousands of bodies since the onset of the war.
At an age when most children are engaged in classroom activities, Zakaria is dedicating his time to volunteer at al-Aqsa, one of the few operational hospitals in Gaza.
In the central town of Deir al-Balah, a stream of ambulances transporting victims of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas arrives at the facility. Zakaria navigates through the throngs of people to bring newly arrived patients inside for urgent medical attention.
Shortly thereafter, he is seen sprinting through the hospital corridors with a stretcher, ultimately bringing a young child into the emergency room.
Since the onset of the conflict, several of Zakaria’s schoolfriends have lost their lives, and his presence at the hospital exposes him to harrowing scenes. He recounts a harrowing experience, stating that following an Israeli strike, he witnessed a boy engulfed in flames, ultimately succumbing to the fire before his eyes.
“I estimate that I have encountered no fewer than 5,000 bodies.” “I witnessed it firsthand,” he informs our cameraman.
Zakaria is among the children and young individuals we observed over nine months for our BBC documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone.
The film was co-directed by my colleague Yousef Hammash and myself from London, as international journalists have faced restrictions from Israel, preventing them from entering the Gaza Strip and reporting independently since the onset of the war 16 months ago.
To collect the necessary footage and conduct interviews, the team enlisted the services of two local cameramen based in Gaza: Amjad Al Fayoumi and Ibrahim Abu Ishaiba. Regular communication was maintained through messaging applications, internet calls, and mobile phone networks.
Yousef and I aimed to create this documentary to illustrate the daily realities Gazan individuals face as they navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict. Filming concluded a few weeks prior, coinciding with the onset of the current ceasefire.
The spotlight was on three children and a young woman with a newborn, emblematic of the innocents caught in the turmoil of war. This conflict experienced a tentative halt on January 19, coinciding with the implementation of a hostage release agreement between Hamas and Israel.
The Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 48,200 individuals have lost their lives in Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing offensive. The military response came in the wake of the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals.
Filming predominantly took place in a region of southern and central Gaza designated by the Israeli military as a “humanitarian zone,” where Palestinians were instructed to seek refuge for their safety. According to an analysis conducted by BBC Verify, despite its designation, the zone experienced nearly 100 strikes between May 2024 and January of this year. The Israel Defence Forces announced that their operations were aimed at Hamas fighters active in the area.
The inquiry focused on understanding how children sourced food, determined their sleeping arrangements, and engaged in activities while navigating survival challenges.
Abdullah, a 13-year-old from Gaza, is the film’s narrator. He demonstrates remarkable proficiency in English, having studied at a British school in Gaza before the conflict, and he is committed to continuing his education despite the challenges he faces.
Ten-year-old Renad hosts a cooking show on TikTok, assisted by her older sister. Despite the challenges posed by the war, which limits access to essential ingredients, they continue to create a diverse array of dishes and have amassed a following of over one million supporters.
Rana, 24, has recently welcomed a baby girl into the world, albeit prematurely. She has experienced displacement on three occasions and currently resides near the hospital with her two sons and her parents.
The film explores the efforts of medical professionals striving to save lives at al-Aqsa Hospital, which British doctors characterised in January 2024 as the sole operational hospital in central Gaza.
It was at that location that Zakaria was discovered.
The boy is a familiar presence to all hospital staff. Despite being just a child and lacking formal medical training, he frequently finds himself in the vicinity, eager for a chance to assist others and driven by the hope of receiving food or money in exchange for his efforts.
At times, he assists in transporting equipment for local journalists, while on other occasions, he carries stretchers bearing individuals who are injured or in critical condition.
During moments of stillness, he takes the initiative to clean the blood and dirt from the ambulances.
With no school available for him, he is the sole breadwinner in his family. He explains that he chooses not to remain with them due to their limited food and water supply, instead opting to live independently at the hospital and find places to sleep as needed. One night, it occurs in the CT scan room; the next, it unfolds in the journalists’ tent or the rear of an ambulance.
Many nights, he drifted off to sleep with an empty stomach.
Despite their efforts, hospital staff cannot shield him from the turmoil of tending to the injured.
Zakaria regards the paramedics highly and aspires to be recognised as a member of their team. Said takes him under his wing, offering guidance and support. He notes that the boy becomes visibly upset whenever he condescendingly addresses Zakaria.
Colleagues observe Zakaria’s dedication and meticulousness toward them and the hospital patients, guiding him in administering an IV drip.
Acknowledging his contributions, a miniature set of blue scrubs is created for him, a token he cherishes deeply.
Said endeavours to provide the boy with a semblance of childhood, and the film captures their journey to the beach.
Under the shade of a tree branch, Zakaria enjoys the lunch provided by Said. According to him, the shawarma is flawless. According to reports, the jokes are the only instances in which the boy remains silent.
However, Said expresses concern that Zakaria has been exposed to such extensive death and destruction that he might struggle to integrate with peers his age in the future.
Zakaria is contemplating life beyond his childhood years.
“I aspire to become a paramedic,” he states. “However, my immediate priority is to find a way to leave this place.”
