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

Tuesday February 3rd - 4-6pm PST / 6-8pm CST / 7-9pm EST

[VIDEO DESCRIPTION: My name is Rosemary and my background dark blue wall, black/white hair, hazel eyes, tan skin, dark gray long-sleeve turtleneck with a butterfly pin with keffiyeh pattern near my heart. . I am a Middle Eastern female sitting and signing this message.]

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: 

Hello! I honored to announce an event that we will be was supposed to happen last October 30 was postponed and will happen on Tuesday, February 3 from 7 to 9 pm ET. We will watch through Zoom, a special documentary called “Severed.” We will watch this for 35 minutes documentary then have a Q/A discussion with a Deaf Palestinian  explaining her experiences working with Deaf people in Gaza. This 35-minute 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 Palestinians 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.  

Some of you already donated $20.  If you are joining us on February 3, you do not need to donate again. Thank you. If you can’t make it, then your funds will be used to support 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.  For those who did not register last October, please join us, save your spot, and we ask you to donate a minimum of $20. 

If you can’t make it on February 3, we will have a recording of the Q/A portion of the event but not the documentary itself as that is copyrighted. Please join us, we look forward to seeing you on February 3 from 7 to 9 pm ET.  Thank you!

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.