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If anyone still doubts that hell has surfaced on Earth and roams Gaza, they need to watch Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi’s latest documentary, .

This all-encompassing portrait of British-Palestinian surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah —Ìývolunteering for the sixth time in his homeland of Palestine during a military conflictÌý— lays bare the ongoing atrocities, which, despite the hypocritical rhetoric of international human rights discourse, no legal body seems capable of ending.

A State of Passion recently celebrated its world premiere at the , where it won the top prizes in the Horizons of Arab Cinema and Documentary Competitions while Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah received a Special Mention in the Palestinian section.

The two filmmakers, known for their substantial Palestine-related filmography, had been close friends to Dr Ghassan for some time before deciding to document his current mission after enduring 43 harrowing days working tirelessly under relentless bombardment in the emergency rooms of Gaza’s Al Shifa and Al Ahli hospitals.

In Cairo, Carol recalls: "While in Gaza, we were in contact, and he said, ‘I’m leaving tonight through Rafah, going to Amman for 24 hours, and then heading to London to see my family.’ Muna looked at me and said, ‘Let’s go to Amman.’ So, we sent him a message, and that’s how it all started. Ten hours later, we were on a plane to Amman."

They commenced filming the moment he walked through the door, determined to capture his raw emotionsÌý— an endeavour in which they largely succeeded.

Following him to Beirut, Amman, London, Kuwait, and Dubai, they explore their shared commitment to Palestine in A State of PassionÌýthrough insightful talks with Dr Ghassan, his wife Dima, and theirÌýtwo sons.Ìý

The strength to persist in a brutal conflict

The documentary also contains Gaza footage which the filmmakers, obstructed to film their protagonist on the spot, purchased from Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya and other global media channels.

Dr Ghassan appears pale and visibly shaken, as he recounts the horrors he had witnessed: bodies torn apart, amputations performed without anaesthetics, children left orphaned with no surviving family, and deliberate attacks on medics and hospital facilities.

As a highly regarded plastic and reconstructive surgeon, he has treated patients at Gaza's Al-Shifa and Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, where he faced the harrowing task of performing amputations on six children in a single day, including one just three years old.

Reflecting on the experience, Dr Ghassan said, "I had never performed this many amputations on children in my entire career."

During his time in Gaza, he meticulously documented the devastating injuries, including burns caused by white phosphorus, to support potential investigations into war crimes — first-hand information that provokes attempts to silence him, including suspension of his medical license.

"The first interview he ever gave about what was happening in Gaza after 7 October was actually with us; no media, nothing. His first real interview is in the film," emphasises Muna.

Humanitarian hero and everyday survivor

The greatest quest of A State of Passion is to unravel Dr Ghassan’s relentless drive to keep returning, guided by an unshakable commitment to his homeland. It seems his ability to endure relentless trauma is rooted in a deep reservoir of resilience and purpose.

This unwavering dedication inevitably affects his family, who face the challenges and risks of his mission alongside him. Yet, their shared devotion to Palestine not only sustains his perilous humanitarian work but also unites them in their steadfast support for his cause.

Initially, Carol and Muna considered titling the film The Reluctant Hero, but Dr Ghassan opposed being labelled a hero.

Instead, he proposed A State of Passion, a title with a double meaning. On one hand, it reflects the shared condition of selflessness and sacrifice that both the filmmakers and their protagonists embody due to their deep connection to Palestine. On the other hand, it evokes themes of contemplation and suffering, resonating with the mythical and sacred history of Palestine, often likened to the lands of Christ’s passions.

Hope amid tragedy

The remarkable thing is that, despite its modest visual style — primarily a series of interviews with much of the footage consisting of "talking heads" — A State of Passion unfolds with the dynamics of a tense action film, unexpectedly culminating in spiritual catharsis.

Cruelty, purification, and inspiration coexist on screen, presented through unpretentious imagery yet filled with the frenetic enthusiasm of the participants.

Additionally, unlike many films about conflict that attempt to wring every ounce of tragedy to shock the viewer, Carol and Muna have chosen perhaps the most delicate way to convey the horrifying details of a subject as non-delicate as genocide.

Their mission is not merely the counting or exposure of victims, nor is it just an act of mourning. Instead, they explore the flip side of tragedy — how exceptional figures like Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah are forged in the fire of hellish circumstances.

A wise way of spreading hope and inspiration that does not neutralise but overshadows the impact of horror, providing the strength to keep going.

Mariana Hristova is aÌýfreelance film critic, cultural journalist, and programmer. She contributes to national and international outlets and has curated programs for Filmoteca De Catalunya, Arxiu Xcèntric, goEast Wiesbaden, etc. Her professional interests include cinema from the European peripheries and archival and amateur films