FAQs

It is a virtual reality project documenting life in Gaza through 360-degree videos and a 3D replica of the city, showcasing its culture, history, and resilience. The project preserves heritage and serves as a documentary of the area, much of which has been destroyed. The project was first conceived by Naim Aburaddi, who is from Gaza and whose family has survived the genocide. Naim was not able to travel to Gaza for six years at that time and so partnering with Dr. Ahlam Muhtaseb and the team of the x-Real Lab of California State University San Bernardino, this project transports Gaza with its multiplicity beyond the blockade and into the world through immersive technologies.

This project started in 2022 when Naim Aburaddi, an MA student in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) at the time, received the 2021 CSUSB xReal Lab fellowship, where he started working with Dr. Ahlam Muhtaseb who was a faculty fellow at the lab (and professor in the same department). Out of Naim's inability to visit Gaza (6 years at that time) and his yearning to feel, touch, smell, and relive his cherished memories in Gaza, this project was born. The team decided to hire a camera operator in Gaza. Between July 2022 and July 2023, our videographer kept on documenting life in Gaza.  Lately, we were able to hire a videographer to capture the aftermath of many of our content. This project was experimental, but no one had ever imagined that we were capturing history! A project that was supposed to imagine a liberated Gaza turned into a heritage preservation one and documentary evidence of the genocide, taking into consideration that many of the places we captured had been on the UNESCO heritage list.

First, to capture Gaza outside the realm of death and destruction and to show the multiplicity of Gaza, introducing the multi-dimensional realities there. We wanted to capture happy moments and mundane life activities; to show how people resist in their resilience and insistence on making life out of the brutal Israeli siege. We captured places and faces that no longer exist in the geography of Gaza. Second, we wanted to imagine a liberated Gaza in virtual spaces so we built, with the help of a team of technicians and 3-D designers from the xReal Lab at CSUSB a replica of the building of the Pasha Palace after we filmed its structure which does not exist anymore, then we deposited many of the happy moments there in a virtual model of Gaza.

The project is an independent entity registered as an LLC.  It is  currently supported by the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab, based in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, under the supervision of Dr. Ruha Benjamin. The initial  project was supported by the x-Real Lab at California State University, San Bernardino. In addition, We have been receiving technical support from the Immersive Media Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder.

While we are located in the United States, we will be traveling across the world.  Feel free to contact us if you want to have the exabit in your country.

You can book a tour via our website or by emailing the founders at thephoenixofgazaxr@gmail.com. To plan an event, you will have access to the digital files of these videos and images organized into 2 categories: First, stand-alone 360 degree videos. Second, 3-D virtual replica of Gaza that includes many of the videos and images on a multi-player gaming platform.  

The VR exhibit  includes  an opening event that features that co-founders of the project. Then people will have the chance to view hundreds of videos and images using a 360-degree camera which takes footage of daily activities in Gaza. The vast majority of the locations captured are historical places in the Gaza Strip before they were destroyed. This includes images and videos of historical monuments, cultural sites, public squares, universities, schools, cafes, streets, agricultural areas, parks, beaches, markets, and amusement places. This is in addition to capturing Palestinian culture through weddings, stitching workshops, dabke, palm harvesting, clay and pottery making, and other hand-made professions. The content will be shown in 3D format where participants could enter Gaza via VR and walk around without being afraid. They could look, stroll, rest in its beauty without fear.

Yes, we would be happy to help to make it happen overseas. Please contact our team to coordinate this.

We are very keen on making this project independent from any institutional interference and to be self-sufficient. This is a non-profit project that will continue the artistic work without any institutional impositions. For now, you can contact us if you want to support.  It will be possible to donate to support the project via our website SOON.

Yes, the project was actually developed in the labs of several universities. We’d be happy to provide you with a kit to make it accessible to your students. Our co-founders would be happy to meet with you if you want to add the project to your syllabus and make it part of your curriculum.

Locate any VR/XR labs on your campus (they might be called something else). You will need the lab for 1. Possible space. 2.Technicians to help you. 3. VR headsets & other equipment to use. You can still organize an event even if you don’t have a VR/XR lab, but it makes your job easier if you have one.

Yes, you need VR headsets to be able to do the experience. Locate as many VR headsets on your campus as possible (we recommend the Meta Quest 2 or 3 headsets). Potential entities that have VR headsets are: labs, libraries, some departments, etc. Make sure you ask if they would lend you or lease you those headsets and get a sense of when they would be available for you to use. If your organization does not have any headsets or have limited number and you want more, you can rent our 8 headsets ( contact us for more details).  You may consider other creative spaces that allow showing the materials without the need to VR headsets. For instance; some universities, like the University of Colorado, Boulder, used their black box theater (360 projection) and their planetarium, so there is room for creative uses of space. The files for such spaces are already edited and ready to be used in a planetarium or black box.

Decide on a space to host the event you are planning. The space could be as big as a conference hall or as small as a classroom or a common area in a building (e.g., atrium of a library). Just makesure that there is flexibility in the furniture set up. The size of the space will depend on how big you want the event to be: e.g., are you doing this for a department on campus or are you doing it for the whole campus? Also, how many headsets are used decides the size of the event. For a campus event, you would need at least 30 VR headsets. Also, keep in mind that the space required for each headset is around 3 feet by 3 feet (0.9m by 0.9m) at minimum. A minimum of50m² of open, clear space is likely to accommodate 8 people comfortably in room-scale mode.

The minimum duration of an event should be 4 hours, but the event could be multiple days or even multiple weeks with a certain number of hours each day.  The date of your event will depend on the following factors: 1. The availability of your guest speakers (if you want to host the Phoenix of Gaza co-founders). 2. The availability of the space & headsets. 3. The availability of the technicians to staff the event.

You need at least 2 technicians to staff a small or medium event, but for larger ones, you probably need 3 or 4. You can also train student assistants and other staff (e.g., library staff) to help the participants in starting the VR experience and in basic trouble shooting. Our team prepared a tutorial on the most important aspects of a technician’s work during an event.

No, the exhibit does not include graphic content such as dead bodies. However, while the VR exhibit highlights themes of rebuilding and resilience,  it may evoke trauma reactions, particularly grief and loss, in those with a personal connection to the spaces shown. Some reactions may be delayed, with emotional impacts lingering for days afterward. We encourage individuals to access on-campus and off-campus resources for support as needed.

Do not worry. You are not alone in this. VR is an emerging technology and a lot of people are not familiar with it. Our team will help you and provide you with guides to make your experience go smoothly.  

Using VR headsets may cause dizziness or motion sickness. In most cases, screens in the room will also project selected scenes for those who desire to view them without the headset. The exhibit is self-guided. The viewer can control which elements to visit; you are free to opt-out of any of them. If you feel dizzy, please opt out and let's know to help.  

VR glasses are not recommended for children under the age of 10, pregnant women, or individuals who are susceptible to epilepsy and seizures. The VR headset can emit radio waves that may affect the operation of nearby electronics, including cardiac pacemakers. If you have a pacemaker or other implanted medical device, please consult with your doctor before registering for this event.

We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and flat shoes for the best experience.

Yes, this experience is fully accessible to wheelchair users and those with other assistive devices.

To ensure your safety, the VR experience is set up in a secure area with plenty of space. You will also be given guidance on how to use the headset and stay steady. If needed, a staff member will assist you throughout the experience to help with balance and provide extra support

Yes, you can wear your glasses while using the VR headset. The headset is designed to accommodate most glasses. However, some glasses may not fit the VR headsets. Many were able to do the experience without using their glasses. Our technicians will be there to help.

Many VR systems offer settings for visual and auditory adjustments, such as subtitles, contrast changes, or audio volume control. It's a good idea to check with the event organizers for specific accommodations.

Viewers should be aware of potential risks associated with participating in the VR exhibit, including but not limited to, VR motion sickness, emotional reactions, or other physical or psychological responses. Viewing any element of the exhibit is voluntary and you may discontinue participation at any time. As consideration for your voluntary participation as an exhibit attendee, you agree to assume these and all other risks of viewing the exhibit through VR, to waive all liabilities associated therewith, to covenant not to sue the phoenix of Gaza XR, and to the hold the project harmless.

We would be happy to arrange special showcases for media outlets. Please contact us via the website or email to arrange a meeting.

Our team is open to any collaboration opportunities that focus on amplifying Palestinian voices and enhancing the project.