Point Loma Nazarene University’s Middle Eastern Association and the Beauty, Revival, Equity, Action, and Knowledge clubs collaborated on an event last week to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Featured speakers focused on the effects the Gaza/Israel war had on women and the land, as well as how Christians could respond to the aftermath of the war.
It was held at the Clara Colt Forum on Thursday night and aimed to educate students on what has been happening in Gaza following the ceasefire on Oct. 9.
Joelle Zabaneh, a fourth-year psychology major and president of M.E.A., was the first speaker and told the story of her family, who are from Palestine.
“I was very proud to [share her family’s experience]; it felt emotional,” Zabaneh said. “It felt incredible. I was very happy to, and I’m glad to make my family proud, and just I hope our story gets shared everywhere so people can know more about the Palestinian people.”
Resident Director of the Colony Apartments, Marsha Hubbar, said another goal of the event was to create a space to learn.
“There’s a lot of context and complexity with this issue, and it oftentimes is not covered in the news,” Hubbar said. “So just a space to come together and learn from experts who have been studying this issue.”
Lauren Hemberry, a second-year theology, justice and peace major, said she heard about the event through a B.R.E.A.K. member and attended to support her. She said she didn’t know anything about Gaza’s history before the event.
“I learned about the decades, if not centuries (depending how you look at it) long conflict in Gaza,” Hemberry said in an email interview. “I learned that Palestinians have been denied statehood and have no international identity because of their lack of statehood (meaning a lack of passport).”
Hemberry said she most enjoyed the sculpture Montague Williams, professor of church, culture and society, brought depicting the three wise men meeting Jesus. The sculpture depicted a border running down the center of the piece.
Jamie Gates, PLNU professor of sociology, was the event’s second speaker. Gates shared his experience growing up in South Africa and how the country is a strong ally of Gaza. He said he grew up in a place where most residents were in support of Israel and seemed to exclude Palestinian perspectives, and that he wanted to see through the eyes of oppressed people.
He said he hopes students will carry the reminder to love their neighbors after the event.
“Then, we together have to decide: What does that actually look like?” he said. “How can we help make that be real? And I thought that was the most reward of the night.”
Zabaneh said she hopes students remember that they are Christians first and should love all people.
“As Christians, we should be looking to those that need our help, and the Palestinians need our help,” Zabaneh said. “I hope people take that and they implement it in every aspect of their life to help those in need.”
Sydney Brammer 
Bray Bartley 
Kaelyn VanderSpek