Sohab El Ard: a powerful drama portraying the human story of Gaza
via Egypt Today8 min read
The series Sohab El Ard, written by Ammar Sabry, directed by Peter Mimi, and produced by United Media Services, offers a human-centered perspective on the Gaza conflict. The 15-episode drama focuses on the lives and resilience of ordinary people, blending political reality with personal narratives. It features Egyptian doctor Salma, portrayed by Menna Shalaby, who joins a medical convoy to Gaza, and Nasser, played by Eyad Nassar, a Palestinian father seeking safety for his family. The series highlights Egypt's humanitarian role, with Salma's efforts to secure medical equipment and the Rafah crossing serving as a lifeline for aid. Sohab El Ard depicts the suffering of Palestinian civilians, including the targeting of hospitals, use of human shields, civilian casualties, and destruction of homes. It also portrays the emotional consequences of war, such as children growing up in fear and families being separated. The series showcases strong performances from its cast, including Kamel El Basha as Ibrahim, Adam Bakri as Majd, and Essam El Saqqa as Samir, an Egyptian driver. Tara Abboud plays Karma, whose storyline involves confrontations with Israeli interrogators. Despite the heavy subject matter, Sohab El Ard emphasizes resilience, hope, and the enduring human spirit, concluding with a documentary segment, The Key of Return, about Egyptian medical teams receiving premature infants evacuated from Gaza.
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