From the Heart of the Rubble.. Two Sisters Establish 'Cinema Haws' to Restore Joy to Gaza's Children

In a step reflecting the will to live amidst destruction, two Palestinian sisters in the Gaza Strip launched a unique entertainment project named 'Cinema Haws'. This project focuses on screening animated films for children, in a serious attempt to provide psychological and recreational support to families and orphans directly affected by the ongoing war in the Strip.

This initiative was established through self-effort and personal endeavor on the rooftop of a house that was not spared from targeting, where the two founders worked on the project for several continuous months. The operations included rehabilitating a passage damaged by bombing and renovating the dilapidated building's staircase, to ensure safe access for visitors and children to the new cinema space emerging from the rubble.

Safaa Dabban, co-founder of the project, explained that the idea of the cinema had been on their minds before the outbreak of the war but was forcibly halted due to military escalation. She affirmed in statements to media sources that the primary goal is to create a real outlet for the residents, with exceptional care dedicated to orphans by organizing free and regular cinema screenings for them inside the center.

The features of creativity were evident in recycling the debris and transforming the effects of destruction into aesthetic touches, as the two sisters utilized the gaps from rocket shells in the walls to turn them into artistic frames for movie posters. Holes in concrete columns were also covered with innovative cotton decorations, transforming the former military operations theater into a comfortable and attractive visual environment for children.

'Cinema Haws' faces significant operational challenges, foremost among them the constant power outages and the sharp rise in fuel prices needed to operate backup generators. These logistical crises impose additional financial burdens on the project management, which is striving to maintain the continuity of screenings despite the suffocating economic conditions in the besieged Strip.

In addition to the energy crisis, the project suffered from high establishment costs due to the insane jumps in prices of building materials and tarpaulins used to cover the roof, as well as the cost of seats. The two founders of the initiative are currently seeking ways to reduce operational costs, ensuring a reduction in ticket prices and making the cinema accessible to all social classes without exception.

This initiative comes at a very sensitive time, as statistics indicate that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 173,000 others injured since October 2023. With about 90% of civilian infrastructure destroyed, 'Cinema Haws' stands out as a model of cultural and humanitarian resistance in the face of attempts to erase the features of life in Gaza.

We strive to provide an outlet for residents and special care for orphans through free screenings that restore a part of their lost childhood.