As Gaza is destroyed, a VR project preserves what Israel tried to erase

Naim Aburaddi and Ahlam Muhtaseb's "Phoenix of Gaza XR" project uses 360-degree video and virtual reality to preserve pre-October 2023 footage of Gaza's cultural sites and everyday life, including the Church of Saint Porphyrius, the Great Omari Mosque, and Gaza City markets, which have since been destroyed or damaged during the war. The immersive exhibit, which has toured over 50 US venues and international locations since early 2024, aims to counter erasure of Palestinian history and culture while supporting war crimes investigations and post-conflict urban reconstruction efforts.