Every Thursday, 14-year-old Natalie al-Hatoum gets ready to go to the cinema. There is a ticket booth and popcorn, but no conventional theatre screen. Instead, a television and plastic chairs create a small cinema experience in Deir el-Balah for girls living through the realities of war and displacement.
For Natalie, the weekly film screening offers something precious — a temporary escape.
“I really like the cinema because it gives us a change of atmosphere,” she says. “It makes you feel like you’re not living through the war.”
A few hours away from a painful reality
Natalie is originally from Gaza City’s Remal neighbourhood. Her family has been displaced since their home was bombed during the early months of the war that began in October 2023.
She narrowly escaped the attack but lost her grandfather, grandmother and a cousin during the conflict.
The experiences have deeply affected her. She says memories of her cousin still make her sad.
The weekly cinema sessions now give her a place where she can feel comfortable and happy, even if only temporarily.
Girls find ‘another world’ inside
The programme is organised for girls aged 11 to 16 by a charity in Deir el-Balah. Sessions usually last one to two hours and include films, games and other activities.
The programme has grown from around 15 to 20 girls at its first session to between 35 and 40 participants today. Many girls bring friends after hearing about the sessions from others.
Fifteen-year-old Rama Abu Mohammed says entering the centre feels like entering “another world”.
She describes it as a safe place where girls can step away from the pressures of war and speak openly about difficult experiences.
The films are only part of the support
The sessions are designed to provide more than entertainment. Psychosocial facilitator Jehan Abu Zanouna says the programme aims to give children a temporary break from the harsh conditions surrounding them.
After films, facilitators discuss the stories and characters with the girls, encouraging them to express their feelings and share what they have understood.
The programme also covers personal safety, boundaries, emotions and protection from harassment — subjects facilitators say are particularly important for children living in crowded and difficult conditions.
A place to recharge and feel hopeful
For Rama, the conversations help her understand how to deal with difficult situations she may encounter.
For Natalie, the weekly cinema offers a chance to return home feeling lighter and more positive.
“I feel like I recharge my energy and then go back to face everything all over again,” Rama says.
Natalie wishes the activity could continue every day.
In a life shaped by displacement and uncertainty, the small cinema in Deir el-Balah has become more than a place to watch films. For these girls, it offers a few hours to laugh, talk, learn, feel safe and briefly experience a world beyond the war.