Jewish woman to share tales of Gaza

Jewish woman Marilyn Garson in Gaza, where she lived and worked for four years. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A Jewish woman who spent four years living in Gaza will give a talk in Whanganui next month.

Canadian-born Marilyn Garson, who describes herself as a "Jew from a Jewish Zionist family", lived with Palestinians in Gaza from 2011 to 2015.

Ms Garson will discuss life in Gaza, answer questions about relations between Israel and Gaza and what the future may hold, in a public meeting on Saturday, April 8.

Ms Garson is a specialist in economic development and was invited to Gaza to work for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine), piloting a social enterprise for IT outsourcing.

"I didn't seek Gaza out. went as an economic development professional, not an activist. I studied my religion through Kindle while I lived there, to formulate my Jewish response to Israel's blockade."

During the 2014 war with Israel, Ms Garson volunteered to remain in Gaza helping organise emergency shelters for displaced civilians. "We prepared for 30,000 but received 293,000," she said.

After she left Gaza, Ms Garson was initially asked by her colleagues in Gaza to not speak about her time there.

"But now I am able to discuss Gaza as a place that surprised me so thoroughly."

She said Gaza has a 96 per cent literary rate and produces a thousand computer science graduates a year.

"Unfortunately, most of them graduate into the world's highest level of unemployment."

Despite her experiences, Ms Garson is a firm believer in peace.

She lives in the Hokianga, and is currently writing a book about her time in Gaza.

Ms Garson will speak in the UCOL atrium at 4pm on April 8. Entry is free.