03/21/2025
Last night we gathered at Union Church in Berea for a sneak preview and discussion of the film “Severed” created by Jen Marlowe, produced by Donkey Saddle Projects, The Nation and +972 Magazine, with production support from Just Vision. Thank you to Daniel Nerenberg for facilitating this discussion & connecting us with this opportunity to provide feedback to the filmmakers.
“Severed” tells the story of Mohamad Saleh from Gaza. 18 years old, Mohamad has lived through five major assaults on the Gaza Strip, losing his home, family members, his best friends, and (at the age of 12) his leg. Now in exile in Egypt, Mohamad struggles to put together the shattered pieces of his life. Through the eyes of one teenager, the pain and trauma endured by thousands in Gaza is laid bare—along with remarkable strength, resilience and determination to live.
This film was incredibly powerful and evoked many strong emotions from our group. I hope all of you are able to watch it once released. We grappled with the impact of the genocide beyond fatalities - the debilitating injuries and the continued struggle of the people continuing to live and resist and find moments of joy in Gaza.
Our resistance sometimes feels small, but during events like these we find ourselves recommitting to this work for a lifetime. We are in this for the long haul. We started this group in November 2023, not long after Operation Al Aqsa Flood. Here we are near the end of March 2025, and there is no end in sight to Israel’s atrocities and war crimes. We will not abandon this fight, and we hope you’ll join us.