Young Palestinians in Gaza are using artificial intelligence to create short films documenting life under conflict and family separation [1, 2].

This initiative allows residents to preserve personal memories and share the realities of displacement through digital storytelling, bypassing traditional filming limitations in a war zone.

Shahd Abu Abada, a 21-year-old [1] university student, is among those utilizing the technology in Gaza City [1, 2]. Along with dozens of other young women [1], Abu Abada participates in an AI training programme designed to turn memories into visual narratives [1, 2].

The creators focus on themes of war and the emotional toll of being separated from loved ones [1, 2]. By leveraging AI tools, they can generate imagery and sequences that represent their experiences, even when physical footage is unavailable or impossible to capture.

The process is not without hardship. The students must produce these works despite persistent electricity cuts that frequently disrupt their access to the necessary technology [1, 2].

Despite these infrastructure failures, the programme continues to provide a medium for young women to express the trauma of conflict [1, 2]. The resulting short films serve as a digital archive of the current crisis in the Gaza Strip [1, 2].

“Young Palestinians in Gaza are using artificial intelligence to create short films documenting life under conflict.”

The adoption of AI-generated storytelling in Gaza reflects a shift in how conflict zones document human rights and personal trauma. When traditional journalism or cinematography is hindered by safety risks or infrastructure collapse, generative AI provides a low-barrier tool for marginalized populations to maintain a historical record of their lived experiences.