Gaza’s Twins, Come Back to Me: A Documentary of Resilience
A poignant new documentary titled Gaza’s Twins, Come Back to Me, directed by Mohammed Sawwaf, tells the heart-wrenching story of a mother and her newborns caught in the turmoil of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The film follows Rania, who is eight months pregnant when the Israeli army invades the Gaza Strip in 2023. Just as her hometown faces bombardment, she gives birth to triplets. Tragically, one girl dies at birth, while her surviving twins, Jowan and her brother Hamoud, are placed in incubators due to their frail condition.
The documentary will have its world premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), running from November 13 to 23, 2023. Over a span of 16 months, the film chronicles the parallel lives of Rania and her twins, exploring themes of motherhood and family bonds that endure even amidst the chaos of war. As the situation in northern Gaza deteriorates, Rania’s sister Nisreen takes over the care of the twins after they are evacuated to southern Gaza. A travel ban complicates their return to their mother, highlighting the barriers families face during conflict.
Documenting Resilience Amidst Conflict
In a director’s note, Sawwaf reflects on the challenges he faced while filming. He was recovering from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023 and found himself trapped in northern Gaza. His team, stationed in the south, worked to document the family’s plight. “The story touched me deeply: these were vulnerable twin babies, just three months old, caught between war zones,” he noted. He instructed his team to begin filming without interference, allowing the children’s reality to guide the narrative.
The film adopts an immersive approach, aiming to “witness life as it unfolded.” For 16 months, the crew followed the family through displacement, hunger, and their longing for connection. Clips released by Al Jazeera Witness showcase the emotional weight of these experiences. The first clip introduces Rania as she examines clothes for her twins, reflecting on their growth and the loss of one of her triplets.
In the second clip, viewers meet the surviving twins. Nisreen discusses their health challenges after taking them in, offering a glimpse into the ongoing struggle for survival. The final clip features little Hamoud surrounded by family members, where discussions of his physical challenges take place. Nisreen reassures him, promising that one day he will learn “everything that happened to you.”
Highlighting the Human Cost of War
The documentary not only captures the resilience of Rania and her family but also serves as a reminder of the human cost of war. Through its storytelling, Gaza’s Twins, Come Back to Me sheds light on the intimate struggles faced by families in conflict zones. As Sawwaf continues to work on a feature narrative film titled Gaza Year Zero, he remains committed to documenting the realities of life in Gaza.
The film is produced by Alef Multimedia and co-produced by Een van de jongens in association with BNNVARA. As audiences prepare for its premiere, it stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of families navigating the harrowing landscape of war, seeking connection and hope against all odds.
