As we near the one-year anniversary of the start of the “Great March of Return” in Gaza, how is life today for Palestinians living there? And what, if anything, do Israeli politicians running in the current national elections offer as a vision to address the needs & the future of the Gaza Strip’s residents?

Tania Hary is the Executive Director of Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, whose goal is to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents. Hary received her B.A. in modern literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz and an M.A. in international affairs, with a focus on socioeconomic development, from the New School in New York. Prior to joining Gisha, Tania worked on advocacy and fundraising initiatives for not-for-profit organizations promoting human rights in Iran, children’s rights in Argentina, and the rights of refugees. Tania regularly travels to the United States and Europe, giving lectures and presentations about access in Gaza. She is relied upon as a source of information and analysis by diplomats, foreign offices and international organizations and has been published in Haaretz, the Forward, Ma’an, and +972 Magazine.

Omar Baddar is the Deputy Director of the Arab American Institute. Omar is a political analyst, digital producer, and human rights advocate. He has an MA in International Relations from the University of Memphis, where his research focused on U.S.-Middle East policy. Prior to joining AAI, Omar was a Digital Producer and Presenter with Al Jazeera International’s The Stream, the Executive Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Massachusetts, and the the Director of the Palestine Cultural Center for Peace. He has participated in dozens of panels, lectures, and debates on college and university campuses throughout the U.S. His media appearances include the BBC, Al-Jazeera, Sky News, Voice of America, and RT; and his writings have appeared in the Daily Beast, Salon, the Huffington Post, and Jadaliyya.

This event was cosponsored by the New Israel Fund and J Street – DC Metro.