One Family in Gaza on Vimeo

22:37

See all Show me

1. One Family in Gaza

8 days ago

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.

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 or to purchase a DVD or organize a screening, please contact donkeysaddle@gmail.com

Credits

20 Likes

fidastance
2 hours ago
Henna Khaw
2 days ago
Bintang Howard
2 days ago
Tina Ottman
2 days ago
Jamila Bensalah
3 days ago
Steve Jones
3 days ago
Renate Khoudja
3 days ago
James Warden
3 days ago
missdiapositiv
3 days ago
Muhammed Rafeeq K
4 days ago

See all 20 likes

Tags

Roy 6 days ago

That was intense, so sad yet so inspiring. Simply unimaginable.

what amazing parents, you really sense their love and values, we need more Kamals in this world.

RS
David R Randall 6 days ago

Brilliant. Yes we need more Kamals in this world, but more than that we need less Israeli soldiers, tanks and bombs in Gaza - and the West Bank. In fact we need none at all. The best way that we can help achieve this is to support the campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israel. Keep up the amazing work Jen. x
Naomi Williams 6 days ago

What a heartbreaking film. Yet somehow I didn't feel hopeless at the end. There's something intensely hopeful here -- not about the situation in Gaza necessarily, but for this family & others like it who are refusing to allow violence & grief to define who they are. As a parent, I found Kamal & Wafaa so inspiring. This is such important work. Thank you.
Nancy McDaniel 5 days ago

This film is so well done. It is mesmerizing. And the couple inspires me while they break my heart. So articulate and hopeful, and loving.
Ninetto Makavejev 4 days ago

Powerful stuff. Strong loving people, maybe the IDF will finally realize what they and their guns/tanks/bombs are incapable of destroying, and at least that would be a reason enough to finally stop the killing and violence.
david Stocker 4 days ago

I want to say this family are a beautiful family. I will think of them when I kiss my kids. Their story will help people who can barely comprehend the extent of suffering in Palestine...for what? Americans, wake up to see the results of US foreign policy in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Honduras, Haiti, ..long list. I think what our government does is not who we are as a people....the ONLY way to show this is to become informed and to act. Wikileaks is a global game changer. Now you know, don't go back to sleep? Non violent resistance. Join BDS.
Thank you, Jen.
Rania Gazawi 4 days ago

What a beautiful family and what a beautiful film. These people make me proud to be human in a time when what I mostly feel is shame and horror at what humans do to each other and the world every single day. As a Palestinian and a Gazawi, I am humbled by these people and their humanity in the face of such obscene brutality. I know proceeds from the film go to them, so what can we do to help and how?
Steve Pallister 3 days ago

Magnificent people. The Palestinians may be mankind's last hope in some ways. Those opporessors of theirs may pretend to be masters of the universe, the moral light to the world and so on, but that is a vicious irony really. It has become clear to more and more people in the world that the Palestinians are really the people that Zionist Jews want us to believe they are.
Tina Ottman 2 days ago

I would like all Israelis to watch this video
Nafez Abu Khater 19 hours ago

As a Palestinian from Gaza, I dont need more evidences for the criminality of Israel, but I need just one evidence to believe that there is humanity all over the world! Think what could happen if such a thing takes place in another country that is supported by USA and give me the answer. I am sorry, I've come to a point, with no doubt, that forced me and many Palestinians to say NO! This is a game could be over only when Israel does not exist. Israel is an evil and it is the source of all problems in the middle.
Thanks for the video.