Egyptian Activist’s Documentary Tells Stories of Survival After October 7 Attacks
In a new documentary, Dying to Live, Egyptian human rights activist Majed el-Shafie sheds light on the impact of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, Giorgia Valente reports for The Media Line. El-Shafie, founder of One Free World International, recounts his own experience of torture in an Egyptian prison and subsequent flight to Israel, where he found refuge. This personal journey fuels his human rights work and the documentary’s mission to promote understanding in the Middle East.
Dying to Live aims to counter extremist ideologies by presenting the reality of the situation in Israel to the Western world and assuring Israelis they are not alone. El-Shafie hopes to translate the film into Arabic, Persian, and Urdu to combat denialism in the Middle East. The film features the story of Harel Lapidot, who lost his niece, Tiferet, in the Nova Festival attack. Lapidot describes his daily struggle with the reality of her death and shares her dedication to helping children of all faiths.
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The documentary also addresses criticisms of Israel following the attacks. El-Shafie challenges those who spread misinformation and emphasizes the need for moral clarity, asserting that the killing of innocent people is unequivocally wrong. He urges viewers to become part of the solution to injustice rather than contributing to the problem.
David Parsons, vice president of the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem, praised the film for humanizing the suffering of those affected by the attacks. Through personal stories like Lapidot’s, the film makes the victims “real human beings,” as Parsons noted. For a more comprehensive understanding of El-Shafie’s message and the stories within the documentary, read the full article by Valente and view the video interview.
