Popcorn and cartoons: A Gaza cinema gives girls a brief escape from war

What the report says

In Gaza City and Deir el-Balah, a weekly cinema-style program is giving displaced girls a brief break from war, according to Al Jazeera. The article describes how 11- to 16-year-old participants gather at a centre run with support from the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations-USA (UOSSM USA), where staff recreate a movie-theatre atmosphere with popcorn, mock tickets, a TV screen and plastic chairs.

The sessions, held every Thursday, are designed as more than entertainment. Girls watch films, take part in games, and then discuss the stories, their feelings and issues such as personal safety, boundaries, emotions and protection from harassment. A psychosocial facilitator told Al Jazeera that the goal is to separate the children, for a short time, from the difficult conditions of displacement and daily survival in Gaza.

Several participants described the screenings as a place to feel safe, talk openly and “recharge” before returning to crowded living spaces. One 14-year-old girl interviewed by Al Jazeera said the activity helps her feel as if she is not living through the war for a while. Another attendee said the centre feels like “another world” and offers a chance to share painful experiences without embarrassment.

The feature places the program in the wider context of Gaza’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, where many families remain displaced and children face repeated trauma. Al Jazeera reports that the initiative aims to support girls emotionally while giving them a simple, age-appropriate space to play, reflect and connect with others.