This film offers a unique insight into ordinary Palestinians’ aspirations of independence and a normal life. The Oslo peace process created a magnificent new airport in Gaza, opened in 1998. “The happiest moment of my life was when we landed at Gaza airport, in a Palestinian aircraft, for the first time,” says pilot Jamal Mohammad, who was put through flight school by the PLO. After years of painstaking negotiations with Israel, which feared the Palestinians could fly a commercial airliner into targets in Tel Aviv, the Palestinian sense of sovereignty was boosted. Everyone involved with the new airline bristled with national pride… Until the peaceful summer of 2000 was shattered by Israeli missiles and the new Intifada. Israel closed the airport in retribution, and sealed off the West Bank. The airport was then opened and closed repeatedly, in line with each political twist. Pilgrims bound for Mecca sat on the airport floor for days, before finally being sent by bus to Egypt. In January 2002, Israeli bulldozers tore up the airport’s runway. This film charts the unravelling of the peace process and the impact of extremism on both sides.

Produced by Provid Film