A Panelist Discussion: "Severed: A Reflection on Power Dynamics,
Privilege, and Oppression in the Context of Gaza"

POSTPONED: Date to be announced

[VIDEO DESCRIPTION: wood panels, gray chair, and gray/tan walls. I am a Middle Eastern female with black/white hair, hazel eyes, tan skin, black blouse with green top underneath and a green/purple butterfly tattoo around my wrist. during the video Rosemary takes off then later puts back on a black/white keffiyeh.]

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: 

Hello! Hold on, let me take off my keffiyeh while I sign. I will put it back on at the end of this message.

My name is Rosemary and my background has wood panels, gray chair, and gray/tan walls. I am a Middle Eastern female with black/white hair, hazel eyes, tan skin, black blouse with green top underneath and a green/purple butterfly tattoo around my wrist.

Hello! I am thrilled to announce an event that we will be hosting on Thursday, October 30 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm EST when we will watch through Zoom, a special documentary called “Severed.” We will watch this for 30 minutes documentary then have a Q/A discussion with a Deaf Palestinian  explaining her experiences working with Deaf people in Gaza. This documentary is about a young man named Mohomad Selah who grew up with 5 assaults by Israeli weaponry.  Will learn about how he survived and see how many people who have survived these 

 have now become disabled throughout Palestine. This will be done through “Reflections of Power Dynamics: Privilege and Oppression in the Context of Gaza.”

We will discuss these topics from the frame of Disability Justice and what the experience is like for a Deaf person in America to support Deaf people in Gaza experiencing violence, pain, amputations, burns, and so much more. TO learn about how they navigate a genocide while disabled, how they get through the rubble, how they get access to information without interpreters available or able to cross through the areas safely.  We will cover all those topics again within the frame of Disability justice. You are invited to join us and watch.  

Our discussion will be with Ranem who knows 7 different languages and is the founder of The Olive Guardians which provides sign language interpreters to provide access to Palestinions around the world to know what is happening with the genocide.  We will have a conversation about their experiences during times of grief and chaos in Gaza.  

Please join us, save your spot, and ask you to donate a minimum of $20. You are invited to donate more. $20 helps to cover our cost and once that is covered the remaining proceeds will be split with 50% going to Mohamad Selah and his work with this documentary and the other 50% will go to The Olive Guardians for their support of providing interpreting access to Deaf Palestinians around the world.  

Hope to see you all there. Wait, hold on. Let me put my keffiyeh back on.  That’s more like it! See you there!

Film Screening Presentation Description:
The film Severed (https://www.972mag.com/severed-film-gaza-mohamad-saleh/) (2025) tells the story of Mohamad Saleh, a teenager from Gaza who has endured five major Israeli assaults. In those attacks, he lost his home, close family members, his best friends, and—at the age of 12—his leg. Mohamad has lived for years with the physical and emotional impacts of that violence, including surviving genocide with an amputated limb. His story reflects the broader reality of thousands of other Palestinians whose disabilities are the direct result of Israel’s systematic violations of international law. This screening will be live during the Zoom chat as we watch it together and engage with an open panel discussion centered around the poignant film "Severed" which chronicles the harrowing journey of Mohamad Saleh, a Palestinian youth who has persevered through unimaginable adversity in Gaza. At just 18 years old, Mohamad's experiences, including the loss of his leg to violence and the scars of multiple wars, offer a compelling lens through which to examine broader themes of resilience, survival, and the impacts of systemic violence.

This open panelist discussion aims to shed light on the dire circumstances faced by families in Gaza, particularly the Deaf, DeafDisabled, and DeafBlind communities who confront additional layers of oppression amidst the ongoing genocidal assault. As we reflect on the narratives in "Severed" we will explore the intricate interplay between power dynamics, privilege, and the systemic oppression that shapes the lives of marginalized populations.

Diversity Academy promotes and supports policies of non-discrimination and an environment that is mutually respectful and free from bias. 

Requests for accommodations must be submitted to [email protected]. 

Cancellation Policy: 

In the event that this webinar has to be canceled, we will notify you within 48 hours. We will provide an alternative presentation.