The film Vibrations from Gaza (16. min, 2024) by Dr. Rehab Nazzal offers a glimpse into the lives of Deaf children living in the colonized and besieged coastal territory of Gaza. Born and raised under siege and subjected to frequent Israeli assaults. Amani, Musa, and Israa recount their experiences with bombardments and the constant presence of drones overhead. The film examines how these children perceive Israeli airstrikes—not through sound, but through shifts in air pressure and ground vibrations. It raises critical questions about the systematic use of sonic and heavy weaponry by Israeli forces and the profound effects of these actions on the hearing and sensory perception of these children.
A discussion will follow the screening, where Dr. Nazzal will provide further insights into the lives of these children and the challenges they face. The discussion will include Ms. Maryam Mahmoud, Principal of the Atfaluna Society School for Deaf Children in Gaza.
The film will be presented in Arabic with English subtitles, and the discussion will be in Arabic.
To register, please fill out the form here.
Rehab Nazzal is a Palestinian-born multidisciplinary artist based in Montreal, Canada and Bethlehem, Palestine. Her work deals with the effects of settler-colonial violence on the bodies and minds of colonized peoples, on the land and on other non-human life. Nazzal’s films, photography and sound works have been exhibited and screened in solo and group exhibitions and film festivals in Palestine, across Canada and internationally. She is currently teaching at Dar Al-Kalima University in Bethlehem. Nazzal has created multiple short films, blurring the boundaries between documentary and video art, including Dima; Mourning and Bil’in; A Night at Home; Canada Park; Bodies in Motion, 2017.
Maryam Mahmoud is a psychologist, sign language expert, and the principal of Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children. With extensive experience in providing urgent humanitarian and psychological support, she specializes in assisting children with hearing disabilities and their families, particularly during challenging and crisis situations.