‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ Makes Its Way from Gaza to World’s Screens
Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl from Gaza who was brutally killed by the Israeli military in January 2024, has come into the spotlight as her tragic story has made its way to the global stage.
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” is a Tunisian-produced film that recounts the final hours of the Gazan girl, gaining international prominence and support from Hollywood heavyweights.
Now, it will premiere in several international festivals, including Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. It has also been nominated for the Oscars.
The Tragedy of Hind Rajab
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” is a Gaza-set drama directed by the Tunisian filmmaker and screenwriter, Kaouther Ben Hania. The film centers on the story of the young Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli troops in Gaza along with 6 members of her family in January 2024.
While fleeing Gaza City, the car of Hind and her family came under heavy Israeli shelling, killing her uncle, aunt, and three cousins. The young girl and another cousin initially survived and contacted the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) by phone to seek help.
The PRCS volunteers tried to keep her on the line, while attempting to get an ambulance to her. Days later, the car was found with Hind and the paramedics who came for help all dead.
The film uses actual voice recordings between Hind Rajab and the Red Crescent volunteers who got the emergency call and tried to reach her, as well as testimonies from her mother and people who tried to help her.
Truth Revealed
Although Israel denied responsibility for the death of Hind Rajab, claiming it had no troops in that area, independent investigations by The Washington Post and Sky News showed otherwise. Satellite imagery confirmed that Israeli tanks were present at the time.
Moreover, London-based research group Forensic Architecture, in collaboration with Al-Jazeera, published a detailed investigation mapping 335 bullet holes in the car’s exterior.
The tragedy sparked global outcry, with protests taking place worldwide. Students at Columbia University renamed Hamilton Hall to “Hind’s Hall,” and American rapper Macklemore released a protest anthem bearing the same name.
Israel’s war on Gaza has so far claimed the lives of over 63,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s health authorities. The Israeli military is also expanding its offensive to fully control the Strip amid ongoing famine.
The Power of Cinema
The filmmaker, Kaouther Ben Hania, is a two-time Oscar-nominated director, first in the International Film category for her 2020 movie The Man Who Sold His Skin, and again in the Documentary section for her 2023 film Four Daughters.
Speaking about her project, Ben Hania, said: “I cannot accept a world where a child calls for help and no one comes. That pain, that failure, belongs to all of us. This story is not just about Gaza. It speaks to a universal grief.”
She pointed to the power of cinema as an instrument to deliver unheard voices. “I believe that fiction (especially when it draws from verified, painful, real events) is cinema’s most powerful tool. More powerful than the noise of breaking news or the forgetfulness of scrolling. Cinema can preserve a memory. Cinema can resist amnesia. May Hind Rajab’s voice be heard,” she said.
From Gaza to Global Screens
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” has gained international prominence, making its way to global events and film festivals. The film will premiere at the 82nd Venice Film Festival’s competition section on September 3, 2025 before debuting at Toronto Film Festival in the Special Representation category.
Furthermore, Tunisia has selected “The Voice of Hind Rajab” as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
The film will also feature in various prestigious events, such as San Sebastian, Busan and London film festivals.
The ongoing war in Gaza has cast its shadows on the Venice Film Festival, which kicked off on August 27 with a protest condemning the war with demonstrators carrying a “Free Palestine” banner. Another protest is set for Saturday to condemn the war and Israel’s aid blockade that has led to a famine in Gaza.
Additionally, hundreds of filmmakers and artists have signed an open letter urging the Venice Film Festival to take a “clear and unambiguous stand” against the “genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing across Palestine” committed by the Israeli government and military, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Hollywood Backing
A number of high-profile Hollywood figures and production companies have lent their support to “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” joining Ben Hania as executive producers. These included Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rooney Mara, drawing global attention to the film before premiering at Venice.
Moreover, Pitt’s Plan B production company has co-produced the film alongside other international studios like Britain’s Film4 and Saudi Arabia’s MBC Studios, backing the film and helping it to reach a global audience.
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” is a collaborative effort by Nadim Cheikhrouha from Mime Films & Tanit Films, Odessa Rae at New York-based RaeFilm Studios, and James Wilson at London-based Jw Films Production. It co-stars Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees Clara Khoury and Amer Hlehel.
Paris-based The Party Film Sales is handling the film’s international sales, closing distribution deals across much of Europe. Meanwhile, CAA Media Finance represents the film for North America.
