Gaza Ghetto is a 1985 documentary filmed in the Jabalia refugee camp. It is widely recognized as the first feature‑length documentary made in the Gaza Strip. The film was directed by PeA Holmquist, Joan Mandell, and Pierre Bjorklund. It documents daily life under military rule and includes interviews with Israeli officials and soldiers who discuss their roles and responsibilities.
The film follows the Abu el‑Adel family across several decades, beginning with their displacement in 1948 and continuing through 1984. It shows routine family life alongside major events, including the birth of a child and the death of a grandmother. These scenes are presented within the broader context of curfews, restricted movement, and other conditions affecting residents of the camp.
The documentary also includes footage of the family visiting the site of their former village, now inside Israel. During this visit, an Israeli resident tells them they cannot remain there without a permit. The sequence documents the contrast between the family’s memories of the land and the current restrictions placed on them.
Gaza Ghetto is frequently cited in film archives and historical discussions because it provides early visual documentation of life in Gaza during this period. It remains part of contemporary Palestinian film collections and is referenced in archival resources such as the Palestine Film Institute.
