John Pilger’s 2002 documentary revisits the West Bank and Gaza a quarter‑century after his first film on the same subject, arguing that the core injustice facing Palestinians has remained fundamentally unchanged. Pilger documents how Palestinians continue to live under Israeli military occupation, facing restrictions on movement, home demolitions, refugee‑camp limbo, and a permit system he compares to apartheid‑era pass laws.
Through interviews with Palestinians and Israelis — including doctors, historians, settlers, peace activists, and families of both suicide bombers and their victims — Pilger explores how decades of displacement, unimplemented UN resolutions on the right of return, and the expansion of settlements have shaped daily life and fueled cycles of resistance.
The film states that the occupation’s human toll, combined with Israel’s military dominance, has created a reality in which Palestinians fight back with limited means while living under what Pilger describes as “open‑prison” conditions. It also highlights Israeli voices critical of government policy, emphasizing that the conflict’s human consequences are felt on both sides.
Upon release, the documentary drew controversy, with some critics alleging bias, though broadcasting regulators upheld its accuracy. Despite the debate, the film remains a stark examination of why peace has been so elusive and why the Palestinian question is still unresolved.
