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Program begins at 12:00 Noon US EDT; 19:00 Palestine Time, 20:00 Europe
Please join us for a screening of a short (10 minutes) video of Jewish American nurse Ellen Siegel who was at the Sabra Refugee Camps in 1982 during the massacre (produced by Middle East Eye). Ellen will join us for a discussion and Q&As with the audience.
Jewish American Nurse Ellen Siegel was an eyewitness at the Sabra and Shatila Massacre.
Join us for a screening of a video featuring Jewish American Nurse Ellen Siegel: Eyewitness to the Sabra and Shatila Massacre
We are honored to invite you to a special screening of a video (produced by Middle East Eye) featuring Nurse Ellen Siegel, a Jewish American nurse who witnessed one of the darkest chapters in modern Palestinian history - the Sabra and Shatila Massacre. Marking an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to promoting understanding, this event aims to create a space for reflection, remembrance, and learning about a crime against humanity that still resonates deeply in the hearts of millions.
The Sabra and Shatila Massacre in September 1982 was a devastating event that occurred during the Israeli occupation of Beirut, Lebanon. Over the course of three days, thousands, of unarmed Palestinian and Lebanese civilians were brutally killed, many with axes and knives, in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. Today, the massacre stands as a haunting reminder of the consequences of unchecked violence agains Palestinians and the urgent need for justice and freedom.
At the heart of this screening is Nurse Ellen Siegel, who will share her firsthand account of the massacre. A compassionate and courageous healthcare worker at the time, Nurse Siegel was present at the scene, working tirelessly with her colleagues to provide medical aid and support to those in need. Her perspective as an American Jew adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, holding the Israeli General Ariel Sharon accountable, even though he did not himself do the killing, just like Adolf Eichman himself did not drop the poison gas canisters into the gas chambers, they both allowed and enabled the crimes against humanity, according to Siegel.
Through this screening, we hope to shed light on the personal stories that emerged from this tragic event and spur meaningful discourse on the long-lasting implications of violence on individuals and communities. By delving into the experience of a Jewish American eyewitness, we aim to foster understanding and empathy across religious and cultural boundaries.
Following the video, there will be a moderated discussion with Ellen Siegel. This will be a valuable opportunity to engage with the subject matter, ask questions, and contribute to a conversation that seeks not only to remember the victims but also to explore avenues for healing and justice.
We extend this invitation to all individuals interested in deepening their understanding of Palestinian history, and the importance of dialogue. Remembering the past with compassion and empathy is key to building a future rooted in justice and peace.
Please join us in honoring the memory of the Sabra and Shatila Massacre victims and in lending our ears to the remarkable account of Nurse Ellen Siegel. Together, we can strive for a more inclusive, compassionate, and harmonious world.
Note: This event is organized by Palestine Museum US, an independent institution dedicated to promoting Palestinian history, arts, and culture. While we strive to create an inclusive and respectful environment for dialogue, the opinions expressed by individual speakers do not necessarily reflect the views of the museum as a whole.
“The Palestinian poet’s U.S. debut gathers two decades of her intimate testimony about private life in a public war zone, where ‘those who win by killing fewer children / are losers.’”—NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW