The Doha Film Festival opened with a powerful and emotional start as it premiered The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film that revisits the heartbreaking final moments of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed during Israeli attacks in Gaza in 2024. The film received global attention just two months after winning the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The Voice of Hind Rajab tells the story of Hind Rajab, who was fleeing Gaza with her uncle, aunt, and cousins when their car came under heavy Israeli fire. Despite being seriously injured, she managed to call Red Crescent volunteers and pleaded for help. Her call, filled with fear and pain, became a symbol of the suffering of Palestinian children trapped in conflict zones. Hind was eventually killed before rescuers could reach her.
Directed by acclaimed Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film blends dramatized scenes with authentic audio. Hind’s real voice is included in full, capturing her desperate conversation with Red Crescent responders. The inclusion of the actual recording gives the movie a haunting emotional depth, highlighting the reality behind the tragedy.
The film also re-creates scenes from inside the Red Crescent office, showing volunteers trying to comfort and guide the terrified child. Though the cast delivers strong performances, it is Hind’s trembling voice—echoing the cries of many other Palestinian children—that forms the emotional core of the entire production.
During the opening ceremony, Hind’s mother spoke to the audience. She shared that she still searches for her daughter every day and hears her voice constantly. She said, “The voice of my daughter is the voice of the children of Gaza. Save the children of Gaza before its last light goes out.” She also revealed that she has not been able to watch the film and may never do so because the pain is unbearable.
Director Ben Hania explained that she was working on another project when she first heard Hind’s story in early 2024. She said the tragedy made her question the purpose of filmmaking. “I heard her voice, and it stayed with me as if she was asking me to help,” she said. After reaching out to the Red Crescent, she received access to the complete audio, which then became the anchor of The Voice of Hind Rajab.
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Although she initially planned a documentary, Ben Hania felt a feature film would deliver stronger emotional impact, especially since the case had already been documented by Al Jazeera. The result is a film that not only honors Hind’s memory but also sheds light on the ongoing suffering of Gaza’s children.
