The UNC Muslim Student Association held its second “One Voice for Gaza” event Wednesday at the Bell Tower, bringing students and community members together for a day of fasting, prayer and remembrance.
The event, which ran from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., marked three years since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel. A United Nations Commission of Inquiry found in 2025 that Israel’s bombardment of Palestine following the 2023 attack constitutes a genocide. Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported the death of over 74,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023.
MSA President Samee Ghaffar, a senior, said he remembers the tension and grief within his community the Saturday the attacks happened during his sophomore year.
“It was something that, that grief never really left,” Ghaffar said.
He said holding the event in such a central part of campus was incredibly meaningful.
“I think that if you went and asked a Palestinian student [three] years ago if they would ever think that having an event on Oct. 7 in an environment like this would be possible, they would probably say that you’re crazy,” Ghaffar said.
Fasting and night prayer, known as siyaam and qiyaam, anchored the day’s schedule. Participants who fasted went without food or water from dawn until sunset. Throughout the day, attendees could also watch a film screening and try activities like tatreez, embroidery and henna.
Candles were handed out ahead of the vigil, which began around 6 p.m. A memorial display at the event read, “Oh rascal children of Gaza, you are the birds of paradise.”
Ghaffar said it is a blessing to be a part of an organization which is able to hold inclusive community events for all who are interested in learning about Islamic religion, culture, and what MSA stands for.
“I think this event is a great example of that — we have so many different orgs here from all sorts of backgrounds and just kind of have a space of belonging,” Ghaffar said. “And to really dedicate some time towards the lives lost.”
Tables from student and community organizations across UNC and the greater Triangle lined the lawn, sharing information about their work, providing refreshments and selling merchandise to raise money for their causes. Organizations in attendance included UNC’s Black Student Movement, Middle East Refugee Aid and the Arab Student Organization.
Ahmad Akkila, co-president of the Arab Student Organization, gave out bracelets and offered tote bag painting at the group’s table.
“ASO is an inclusive community,” Akkila said. “It’s all about bringing people that identify with Arab heritage or that are interested in Arab heritage, getting to know the community at UNC, being able to get in touch with the culture, the food and just being aware of what’s going on in the Middle East as well.”
Sohaila Morsi, pharmacy chair for Middle East Refugee Aid, said her organization is working with pharmacies and medical assistants to provide vaccines and immunizations to refugees following recent changes to Medicaid eligibility.
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill, which President Donald Trump signed in July 2025, asylees and refugees are no longer eligible for Medicaid as of Oct. 1, 2026.
Morsi said her goal in attending the event was to educate those about the resource and volunteer opportunities.
“We’re honestly just letting people know about MERA, and a lot of people don’t know about MERA, or they don’t know the specifics of it,” Morsi said.
Lucia Paulsen, a junior and former c0-president of the Campus Y, said they returned after attending the event last year.
“It’s very great to just be around community and see all these people, all the familiar faces that I really love,” Paulsen said.
They said that while this year’s event was similar to last year’s, the atmosphere on campus felt different.
“I think that we’re seeing perhaps this post-encampment energy — it’s really starting to fizzle in a certain way,” Paulsen said.
Paulsen added that there was less of a physical and mental burden on the students attending this year because the Quad was not fenced off as it was in 2024.
The University had installed additional security measures in public areas on campus following the spring 2024 encampments. Later that year, the University fenced off the Quad and required ID to enter surrounding buildings the week of Oct. 7.
Still, they said students need to be reminded of what is going on in the Middle East.
The event concluded with qiyaam, as attendees prayed together on the lawn or gathered in a moment of silence.