04:49An activist group in the Gaza Strip is teaching displaced children traditional Palestinian dances to help them cope with the 'psychological pressure' of living under the shadow of war.
Footage captured at a displacement camp in Khan Younis on Friday shows crowds watching children from the 'Al Fursan Group' perform dances such as the ancient 'Dabke', a famous routine across the Levant.
"After a long period of war, we decided to rebuild the team and try to perform our pre-conflict mission of assisting children and resolving their problems, whether socially or psychologically," explained Bashar al-Bilbeisi, founder of the dance troupe.
"Here in Khan Younis, we decided to come to the camp and train as many kids as we could. We trained 60 children for a long period of time," he continued.
The performance was dubbed 'Zarif Al-Tool on Arrival' and tells the tale of a Palestinian man who fought against oppression during the British mandate.
"The Dabke dance releases energy and psychological pressure, and our heritage will exist until the last day of our lives. Dabke dance is a message of defiance and steadfastness to the world," a participant said.
Fighting erupted in Gaza on October 7 after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel launched a large-scale response of airstrikes and a ground incursion. Palestinian officials reported that 40,878 people had been killed and more than 94,454 injured at the time of publication.
'Message of defiance' - Activists teach displaced children ancient 'Dabke' dance in war-torn Gaza
An activist group in the Gaza Strip is teaching displaced children traditional Palestinian dances to help them cope with the 'psychological pressure' of living under the shadow of war.
Footage captured at a displacement camp in Khan Younis on Friday shows crowds watching children from the 'Al Fursan Group' perform dances such as the ancient 'Dabke', a famous routine across the Levant.
"After a long period of war, we decided to rebuild the team and try to perform our pre-conflict mission of assisting children and resolving their problems, whether socially or psychologically," explained Bashar al-Bilbeisi, founder of the dance troupe.
"Here in Khan Younis, we decided to come to the camp and train as many kids as we could. We trained 60 children for a long period of time," he continued.
The performance was dubbed 'Zarif Al-Tool on Arrival' and tells the tale of a Palestinian man who fought against oppression during the British mandate.
"The Dabke dance releases energy and psychological pressure, and our heritage will exist until the last day of our lives. Dabke dance is a message of defiance and steadfastness to the world," a participant said.
Fighting erupted in Gaza on October 7 after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel launched a large-scale response of airstrikes and a ground incursion. Palestinian officials reported that 40,878 people had been killed and more than 94,454 injured at the time of publication.
An activist group in the Gaza Strip is teaching displaced children traditional Palestinian dances to help them cope with the 'psychological pressure' of living under the shadow of war.
Footage captured at a displacement camp in Khan Younis on Friday shows crowds watching children from the 'Al Fursan Group' perform dances such as the ancient 'Dabke', a famous routine across the Levant.
"After a long period of war, we decided to rebuild the team and try to perform our pre-conflict mission of assisting children and resolving their problems, whether socially or psychologically," explained Bashar al-Bilbeisi, founder of the dance troupe.
"Here in Khan Younis, we decided to come to the camp and train as many kids as we could. We trained 60 children for a long period of time," he continued.
The performance was dubbed 'Zarif Al-Tool on Arrival' and tells the tale of a Palestinian man who fought against oppression during the British mandate.
"The Dabke dance releases energy and psychological pressure, and our heritage will exist until the last day of our lives. Dabke dance is a message of defiance and steadfastness to the world," a participant said.
Fighting erupted in Gaza on October 7 after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel launched a large-scale response of airstrikes and a ground incursion. Palestinian officials reported that 40,878 people had been killed and more than 94,454 injured at the time of publication.