People looking to gain a better understanding of the ongoing Gaza-Israel conflict can attend an upcoming free public discussion that explores the circumstances leading up to the Oct. 7 attacks.

Led by Western Washington University Professor Nada Elia, the discussion also delves into the aftermath and what can be done to stop genocide in Palestine. Since the start of the war, over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza.

Aptly titled “Beyond October 7,” the event begins at 5 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 3 at Langley United Methodist Church’s community hall.

Elia teaches Arab American Studies and Comparative Cultural Studies. She is the author of “Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts: Feminism, Inter/Nationalism, and Palestine,” which was published in 2023. She is also a core member of the Palestinian Feminist Collective.

“A scholar-activist, she is intrigued by the potential of academics to resist and abolish institutionalized oppression from within ‘the brain of the monster,’” the event description read.

Scott Chaplin, the former mayor of Langley, is organizing the event. He met Elia at a party a few months ago and invited her to Whidbey to share her knowledge.

This is one of many important causes to Chaplin.

“There’s a lot of Jewish and Israeli voices that are not being heard,” he said. “It would be good to get some of those perspectives brought forward.”

The upcoming event will be followed by a potluck dinner. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by visiting brownpapertickets.com/event/6233998. Participants who want to attend via Zoom can also obtain a webinar link when they RSVP.

The event is sponsored by the Open Table, the South Whidbey Chapter of the Puget Sound Alliance for Retirement Action, the Whidbey Island Progressives and the Adult Forum Langley United Methodist Church.