The Jenin Freedom Theater, an embodiment of the “cultural resistance” genre of committed art, ceased operations after the Israeli army ethnically cleansed Jenin refugee camp’s residents. The theater is now gathering stories of displacement.
The Tunnel for Freedom, when six Palestinians escaped from Israel’s notorious Gilboa prison, has become an iconic moment in modern Palestinian history. One year later, the six prisoners have been re-arrested but the unity their daring action inspired lives on.
“Those days of freedom,” Aymen Kamamji’s father tells Mondoweiss, “they were some of the happiest days of our lives.”
Eleven years ago filmmaker Udi Aloni moved to the Jenin refugee camp to work at the Jenin Freedom Theater. During that time he lived in Zakaria Zubeidi’s house. Here, Aloni recalls several stories from him time with Zubeidi on the nature of art and resistance.