ITV1 Commissions Israel & Gaza: Into the Abyss

ITV1 has commissioned the 90-minute documentary Israel & Gaza: Into the Abyss, following a number of Gazans and Israelis through the most dramatic and tragic year of their lives, from Top Hat Productions (Mariupol: The People’s Story).

In Gaza, the film charts the lives of three individuals from their reaction to the events of October 7 to the start of the bombing by the Israeli military to the loss of their families. In Israel, it centers on people who were attacked by Hamas and follows them through the year as hostages and, in one case, as a reservist soldier.

Israel & Gaza: Into the Abyss will debut on ITV1 and ITVX. It was filmed, directed and produced by Robin Barnwell. Gaza producers are Fatma Hassona, Osama Al-Ashi and Youssef Al-Saifi, while the Israel producer is Oren Rosenfeld of Holyland Productions. Toby Fitzpatrick is also a producer, and Darren Kemp is an executive producer.

“The dreadful events of the past year have shocked people around the world, but this is a powerful and timely reflection on the impact upon those ordinary families most affected—both inside Gaza and in the parts of Israel attacked on October 7,” said Tom Giles, controller of current affairs at ITV.

Kemp, CEO of Top Hat Productions, commented, “This is a deeply emotional film about how this terrifying war has affected individuals and their families. It not only provides a devastating portrait of the conflict as a whole but also examines the cycle of violence that affects ordinary Israelis and Palestinians.”

The documentary was also made as a theatrical release and will be distributed by Sphere Abacus.