The First 54 Years - An Abbreviated Manual for Military Occupation

“Military occupation” is an abstract term that can be misinterpreted. What does “occupation” mean? What does this occupation mean to the people who live under it? How do the people who put it into practive describe it?

This film gives meaning to the term “occupation” in the form of a “military occupation manual”, based on the testimonies of Israeli soldiers who have been implementing it for 54 years in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Director Avi Mograbi offers an insight into the workings, logic and practices of a colonialist occupation through a surprising device, combining archive footage and spoken word punctuated by the filmmaker’s own narration.

Watch the discussion with director Avi Mograbi following the screening of his film at the FIFDH. This discussion was moderated by Heba Aly, journalist, expert in humanitarian crises, and former CEO of The New Humanitarian.

Discussion in English (original version). 
Discussion in French (translated version).