Can a video game make you feel the weight of history? That’s the ambitious goal of a new 3D stealth adventure game called “Dreams on a Pillow,” launched by Palestinian game developers.

The game is inspired by the events of the Nakba of 1948, referring to the ethnic cleansing to which 750,000 Palestinians were subjected from their homes located in what is now known as the State of Israel.

It is scheduled to be released in 2026.

So what do we know about the game that launches at a time the Palestinians hope for this week? Ceasefire agreement Will the relationship between Hamas and Israel regarding Gaza endure, where more than 46,000 people have been killed in the ongoing Israeli bombing of the Strip for 15 months?

Who is behind the game and what is its purpose?

The game is the brainchild of Rashid Abu Eida, a developer based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Abu Aida, the game’s director and designer, told Al Jazeera: “We are trying to make this game a masterpiece.” His latest game, “Layla and the Shadows of War,” inspired by the 2014 Israeli attack on Gaza, was a huge success.

“It’s story heavy. We want to bring all this information into gameplay that resonates with players,” he said.

Abu Ubaida, who lives in Nablus in the West Bank, says that he would like the world to understand that the Israeli war on Gaza is a direct result of previous events and decisions after the October 7, 2023 event.

He says the game is also an attempt to highlight and share Palestine’s rich history.

Despite its previous success, it has struggled to obtain funding from traditional sources. So he crowdsourced on LaunchGood, a global crowdfunding platform focused on supporting Muslim communities around the world. Dreams on a Pillow reached its funding goal of $194,800 on January 7. At the time of writing, the video game project has raised $218,272.

The game’s current funding is sufficient to begin development and should cover the first year’s costs including salaries, outsourcing, and asset creation.

According to Abu Aida, LaunchGood has emerged as one of the few viable options for fundraising efforts, as many major crowdfunding platforms have declined to help.

Content related to Palestine often faces intense scrutiny and, in some cases, outright bans. Censorship or even covert banning of pro-Palestine content has been well documented.

In May 2023, a YouTube video created by Palestinian officials, which was supposed to be presented at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, was removed from the platform. It was the platform Accused of Violating the digital rights of Palestinians.

Investigations conducted by human rights organizations and the media revealed the removal and suppression of pro-Palestinian content from social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.

Netflix has removed nearly 32 films about Palestine from its platform. The streaming giant attributed the removal of the films to the expiration of three-year licensing agreements. However, this sudden deletion sparked a strong outcry from human rights groups and individuals across social media platforms, according to TRT World.

Why @Netflix Sanitizing much of its films and content regarding Palestinians and Palestine?

Look at all the Palestinian stories that are “leaving soon.”

Israel is already trying to erase Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. Why @Netflix Erasing Palestine… pic.twitter.com/rXEmcVqvJ8

– Sunjeev Bery (@Sunjeev_Bery) October 13, 2024

What is the story of dreams on a pillow?

The main theme of the game is based on Palestinian folklore about the legend of a young mother escaping The Israeli Tantura massacre in 1948a Palestinian city that is now part of Israel.

As she fled through other Palestinian villages and refugee camps on her way to Lebanon, she witnessed the events that occurred in these communities and cities along the way.

According to Abu Eida, this trip serves as a lens through which we observe the broader historical context and personal experiences of displacement during this turbulent period.

A stepfather falls victim to the Israeli invaders. Frantically, she rushed home to save her newborn baby. In her haste and terror, she fled the city, only to discover later that she had mistakenly grabbed the pillow instead of her child.

The outcome of the story varies greatly depending on the narrator and audience. In most renditions, the mother descends into madness. Other accounts depict her either being killed or successfully evading Israeli patrols and military units, resulting in her fleeing her homeland – a place she may never see again.

Recently Ask Me Anything (AMA) He lives On Reddit, Abu Ubaida explains why he chose Umm:

“The young mother’s experiences highlight the extent of the devastation of the Nakba, and in particular the psychological impact it had on her. This adds a deeper layer to understanding what happened, and highlights the emotional and mental toll that is often overlooked when discussing the crimes committed.

Zionist militias committed more than 70 massacres that claimed the lives of more than 15,000 Palestinians before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

What is the theme of Layla and the Shadows of War?

In 2016, Abu Aida’s small team of developers launched in Palestine Layla and the shadows of war For PC and mobile platforms, which was based on the 2014 Israeli attack on Gaza.

The Israeli military operation, called Operation Protective Edge, resulted in the deaths of 2,300 Palestinians and 73 Israelis.

According to Abu Ubaida. Layla and the shadows of war were It was a huge success with millions of downloads and took first place for Excellence in Storyboarding at the International Mobile Game Awards for the MENA region.

The game revolves around the horrific experience of a Palestinian family during the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, as they struggled to survive amid conflict and destruction.

“We followed the story of a young girl living in Gaza. During these attacks, we try to build an emotional story. “We connect people to what is happening in Gaza, and show them the decisions you have to make as a Palestinian during war, and no matter what decision you make, it is difficult to stay on Alive,” says Abu Eida.

apple He rejected the game at first But she later retracted her decision after popular pressure. Abu Aida says that the film Laila and the Shadows of War faced rejection because of its strong political themes.

“Players must deal with the stark realities of life in the midst of conflict, challenging them to navigate through constant bombings and gunfire in search of refuge. The game mechanics are no different from other games, even though it is set in the Gaza Strip.

How is Dreams on a Pillow different from his previous games?

Although Dreams on a Pillow is set in Palestine like Liyla and Shadows of War, the dynamics of the game are different.

“For the gameplay element, you play as this character [Omm] “Holding the pillow limits her ability to do things in the environment, but this pillow provides her with safety,” Abu Aida says.

The psychological effects of the Nakba are clearly depicted through the game’s narrative story structure and mechanics.

A mother finds solace and security when she carries the pillow that symbolizes her childhood. However, when she wears it, her mental state quickly deteriorates. You may have nightmares and hallucinations, which reflect the constant danger and trauma you are experiencing.

Her psychological fear is evident through the game’s mechanics. In each level, during the catastrophe, you enter a dream state. In this dream, which also takes the form of a game, we witness the life of a mother before the Nakba, providing a stark contrast to her current experience.

“This is our opportunity to show the culture of Palestine and the nature of Palestine. The customs of the people before the Nakba and how beautiful the nature was. There is a lie about Palestine that is told in the Western media: a land without a people, for a people without a land.

“We have to show that Palestine was rich in history and culture, and full of its people and customs before what happened in 1948.”

According to Abu Aida, the game will require two years of development with a planned release in 2026. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, it is not clear from the development team which platforms will accept the game.

What happened during the Nakba and the establishment of Israel?

On May 14, 1948, immediately after the end of the British Mandate, Zionist leaders declared the establishment of the State of Israel. This declaration sparked the First Arab-Israeli War. After that, the Zionist forces controlled 78% of historic Palestine.

The remaining 22% was divided into two regions: the West Bank, which is now under occupation, and the Gaza Strip, which has been reduced to rubble due to more than 15 months of continuous Israeli bombing.

Nearly 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes and lands following acts of violence launched by Zionist militias.

The continued Israeli military control over the Palestinian territories for decades has a negative impact on the daily lives of Palestinians. The prolonged occupation and expansion of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land has jeopardized the possibility of achieving a two-state solution – where Israeli and Palestinian states coexist side by side.