Humanity, love and friendship always win against destruction, Egyptian actor Farouk Mohamed said of "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East", the Chinese anti war film now winning strong reviews at the summer box office.
The film has been drawing attention since its release, with Mohamed earning praise from Chinese audiences for his portrayal of Jamal. It has quickly emerged as one of the season's standouts, propelled by its emotional story and strong word of mouth.
The narrative follows Chef Xu Fu, who travels to the Middle East to run a Chinese restaurant in hopes of paying off his debts. His plans are upended when conflict breaks out, forcing him to confront the harsh realities of war.
"I think the idea the film is trying to convey is that sharing the simplest meal with love and genuine friendship are the strongest weapon against destruction. And humanity always wins. As long as we continue reaching out to one another, the world will be in peace and love, and there will always be a sense of togetherness," said Mohamed in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Mohamed described filming in China as one of the most rewarding periods of his career.
"Filming in China was an incredible experience for me and I would say it's one of the best periods of my life. And I was very happy with the whole experience. Shandong is a captivating place, and the people there are very kind. I lived the best moments of my life there. Also, the energy of the Chinese team was amazing. I felt like I was at home. I also want to add that Chinese food is very delicious, and I loved it a lot. As soon as I came back to Egypt, I started looking for Chinese restaurants so that I could recall the memories again. They were definitely the best moments of my life," he said.
He lauded Chinese cinema for its growing international outlook and sharp insight into real world turmoil.
"Chinese cinema has become more international and open, no longer looking at the world as an outsider. It's now delving into shared human experiences and starting to prove that feelings are the same, no matter what language we speak," said Mohamed.
Egyptian actor champions humanity in Chinese anti-war hit
Displaced farming families are returning to their homeland in Gaza City, restoring fields and growing food again, though challenges like poor farming conditions and lack of supplies remain.
In parts of Gaza, farmland damaged during Israel's war on the enclave is slowly coming back to life.
Fresh vegetables are being harvested again from farmland in Gaza City's Al-Zaitoun neighborhood.
For the Al-Dahdouh family, these crops mark the return of their land to life.
The challenges have been immense. Nearly three years of war have left much of Gaza's farmland damaged or bulldozed, making the return to farming a difficult task for families trying to start again.
"When we returned after being displaced, the land was covered with piles of rubble and debris and was difficult to access. Everyone in the family worked together to rehabilitate it for farming. Thankfully, we were finally able to cultivate it again," said Wajiha Al-Dahdouh, a Palestinian farmer.
Rebuilding livelihoods and restoring a sense of normal life remains difficult after the three years of war, repeated displacement and the loss of income for many families.
"We can't afford to hire workers to help us with farming because of the high costs. We also face serious difficulties securing water for irrigation and pesticides. It has been a huge burden on us," said Iman Al-Dahdouh, another Palestinian farmer.
The Al-Dahdouh family is among around 350 farming families supported by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with Relief Housing Units and farming assistance.
Around 1,100 families are expected to benefit in total.
"For the last three years, it has been total destruction, and people have had to leave their homelands. The families have been displaced multiple times to various locations in the midland south area of the Gaza Strip. What you see here now is life returning to the neighborhood, and UNDP supports these families through providing dignified shelters and housing solutions through what we call relief housing units," said Margunn Indreboe Alshaikh, deputy special representative of UNDP Palestine.
The initiative is part of UNDP's Neighbourhood Approach, combining housing with basic services and livelihood support.
Displaced farmers arrive back in Gaza amid challenges
