One Family in Gaza from Jen Marlowe on Vimeo.
Just months after the Israeli assault that killed 1,390 Palestinians, I visited Gaza. Among dozens of painful stories I heard, one family stood out. I spent several days with Kamal and Wafaa Awajah, playing with their children, sleeping in the tent they were living in, and filming their story.
Wafaa described the execution of their son, Ibrahim. As she spoke, her children played on the rubble of their destroyed home. Kamal talked about struggling to help his kids heal from trauma.
What compelled me to tell the Awajah family’s story? I was moved not only by their tragedy but by the love for their children in Wafaa and Kamal’s every word.
It is now the two-year anniversary of the assault on Gaza, and today, January 4th, is the two-year anniversary of what the Awajah family (and so many other families in Gaza) lived through. The 23-minute film is complete. Their story will now be told.
Palestinians in Gaza are depicted either as violent terrorists or as helpless victims. The Awajah family challenges both portrayals. Through one family’s story, the larger tragedy of Gaza is exposed, and the courage and resilience of its people shines through.
For more information, schedule a screening, purchase a DVD, or support this project through a tax-deductible donation please contact donkeysaddle@gmail.com.
