A new documentary titled *Life Support* offers an intimate look at the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza amid ongoing conflict with Israel. Directed by Daniele Rugo, the 93-minute film follows a group of international medical professionals who have travelled to Gaza to assist local healthcare workers overwhelmed by the extensive damage and casualties resulting from Israeli military operations.

Featured prominently in the film are specialists in paediatrics, gastrointestinal surgery, obstetrics, and plastic surgery, reflecting the urgent and diverse medical needs faced by hospitals in the territory. The documentary captures gripping scenes of patients suffering from malnutrition, severe injuries, and trauma of varying degrees, highlighting the strain on Gaza’s already fragile healthcare infrastructure.

Rather than focusing on the foreign doctors as heroic figures risking their lives, *Life Support* emphasizes their role as witnesses to the resilience and determination of Gazan medical personnel working under extreme conditions. Interviews with the participating doctors, including Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan, Dr Victoria Rose, and Professor Nick Maynard, provide detailed accounts of the challenges on the ground. They also offer rare insights into Gaza at a time when reporting is heavily restricted.

The film supplements these testimonies with graphic, on-the-spot footage showing the destruction wrought on hospitals and clinics, along with the suffering of civilians of all ages caught in the conflict. These vivid images aim to draw international attention to the humanitarian emergency unfolding in the territory.

While the documentary briefly references the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, describing them simply as “a surprise attack,” it devotes far more attention to the consequences of Israel’s response. Several contributors categorize Israeli policies in Gaza as constituting genocide and ethnic cleansing, though the film notably refrains from directly labeling Hamas’s actions in Israel as a massacre.

*Life Support* thus presents a detailed perspective on the medical and humanitarian impact of the conflict in Gaza while raising complex questions about terminology and accountability. It contributes to the ongoing discussion about the severe toll the conflict is exacting on civilian populations and health services in the region.