TOP HAT PRODUCTIONS REVEALS PERSONAL STORIES BEHIND ISRAELI / GAZA CONFLICT IN NEW DOCUMENTARY

September 4, 2024 — ITV1 has commissioned Top Hat Productions to produce a one-off documentary that captures the horror of the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza.

Produced by the team behind the multi-award-winning Mariupol: The People’s Story, the 1 x 90’ documentary, Israel & Gaza: Into the Abyss follows a small number of Gazans and Israelis through the most dramatic and tragic year of their lives. Using personal and previously unseen footage, it tells the story of the war in Gaza and the October 7 attacks through deeply emotional stories from both sides of the conflict.

In Gaza, the film follows three individuals, from their reaction to the events of October 7th to the start of the bombing by the Israeli military to the loss of family members that all three suffer. In Israel, viewers will witness footage of the interviewees as they and their family members are attacked by Hamas on October 7th, and follow their lives through the year – including as hostages and, in one case, as a reservist soldier.

Tom Giles, Controller of Current Affairs ITV said: “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.”

Darren Kemp, CEO at Top Hat Productions said: “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.”

Israel & Gaza: Into the Abyss is a 1 x 90’ documentary made by Top Hat Productions for ITV1 and ITVX. It was commissioned by Tom Giles, Controller of Current Affairs ITV. It was filmed, directed and produced by Robin Barnwell, Toby Fitzpatrick is the Producer, Guy Creasey is Editor and Darren Kemp is Executive Producer. Gaza producers are Fatma Hassona, Osama Al-Ashi, Youssef Al-Saifi and the Israel Producer is Oren Rosenfeld at Holyland Productions.