In the heart of besieged Gaza, stands Mahdi Karira, a doll maker, transforming metal cans into lifelike toys. He stands in his humble workshop, where a table made of bricks holds his creations, while the crumbling walls bear witness to the Israeli war that devastated the region.
Karira, who sings softly as he works, knows that these small dolls will bring smiles to the faces of children who have been displaced due to the six-month-long war. He says, as he looks at the dolls he crafted with his own hands, "These dolls make the world around us more beautiful."
Before the war, he had a shop filled with colorful dolls that he used in his performances on the city's theaters. Now, his shows take place in refugee camps after Israeli shelling forced him to flee his home in Gaza City to Deir al-Balah.
In his workshop, he hangs the dolls he made from metal cans and wood, with their faces expressing different emotions, and their limbs connected by strings that he uses to make them move. As Gaza is under siege, obtaining new raw materials poses a challenge, so he relies on scraps and old sardine cans, adding colors to them for use in doll making.
"Unfortunately, I lost the dolls and my work in the theaters after displacement. I left everything behind in Gaza City. I couldn't find the raw materials to make the dolls, and we are surrounded only by metal cans of various shapes and sizes," says Karira. He adds, "Using these recycled materials has environmental benefits, and the dolls I create tell the stories of the displaced and the children."
Amidst the war, Karira continues his craft, determined to bring joy to the hearts of children in the refugee camps. "It is important for us to remain rooted in this land despite the aggression," he says, and adds, "It is important to remain faithful to our work by innovating our art. Each of us has our own work, talents, and art, which allows us to continue our activities despite the war."
In the end, Karira remains steadfast, determined to continue making dolls despite the war and destruction, believing that art and creativity can bring hope and joy even in the most challenging circumstances.
