Kawthar Bin Haniyeh Shares Hind Ragab’s Mother’s Gratitude Following Venice Film Festival Recognition
Following the acclaim received at the Venice Film Festival, director Kawthar Bin Haniyeh shared a poignant message from Wissam Ragab, the mother of six-year-old Hind Ragab, a Palestinian girl martyred in Gaza in january 2024. The film, ”Hind Ragab’s Voice,” recounts the tragic events surrounding Hind’s death, highlighting the broader suffering of Palestinians during the ongoing conflict.
The film focuses on the harrowing events of january 29, 2024, when the Palestinian Red Crescent received a desperate plea for help from Hind, who was trapped in a car under fire in gaza’s tal Al-Hawa neighborhood. She and her family, including her uncle Bashar, his wife, and children Sarah, Layan, Raghad, and Muhammad, where targeted near the Faris Petroleum Station. Hind’s final words, pleading for rescue – “Come cheeks me… Range on someone comes to take me… Amana… I am afraid of darkness” – were captured during a phone call with the Red Crescent, who were unable to reach her due to the ongoing Israeli occupation forces’ actions. hind, along with her uncle, aunt, and cousins, were all killed. The initial distress call came from Hind’s cousin, Lian Hamada, before she was also martyred.
Wissam Ragab, through Bin Haniyeh, expressed her gratitude to the film’s team and all those who supported the project. “I want to thank you, the entire team, and everyone who supported the film, supported me, and supported this story,” she stated. She expressed her hope that the world would not forget hind’s story, emphasizing that “there are still many children waiting for hope” in gaza.
Bin Haniyeh underscored the urgency of the situation, noting that Hind’s mother and other family members, including her brother Iyad, remain in Gaza and are in constant danger. She appealed to world leaders to intervene and save their lives, framing their survival not as an act of charity, but as a matter of justice and humanity.
“Tonight, this story is not only about the anniversary, but about the urgency,” Bin Haniyeh stated.
“Hind Ragab’s Voice” features Palestinian actors Moataz Melis, Clara Khoury, amer Halhel, and Saji Keelane and has garnered executive producer support from Brad Pitt, joaquin Phoenix, and Rooney Mara. The film serves as a powerful testament to the ongoing genocide faced by the Palestinian people and a call for accountability for the actions of the Israeli regime. Bin Haniyeh concluded by calling for an “unbearable ending” to the suffering.