“In a land where hope is the most precious commodity passed down through the generations, these stories provide a tangible platform for silenced voices to be heard and means towards gaining some dignity for a wounded nation.” ―Ramzy Baroud, author of My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gaza’s Untold Story
Gaza Writes Back is a unique anthology of short stories from fifteen young writers in Gaza. Their experiences, especially during and following Israel’s 2008–9 offensive known as “Operation Cast Lead,” have fundamentally impacted their lives and their writing. The stories in this book take us into the homes and hearts of moms, dads, students, children, and elders striving to live lives of dignity, compassion, and meaning in one of the world’s most embattled communities.
This anthology was chosen and edited by the Gazan writer and English literature professor Dr. Refaat Alareer, who also included three of his own pieces of short fiction and one of his poems. In 2023, the Israeli military assassinated Alareer, sending shockwaves of horror among all who loved and respected him around the world. This memorial edition is dedicated to his memory and also contains a new foreword by Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada.
The stories in Gaza Writes Back strikingly evoke the deep sense of longing of many of their characters, in particular a yearning for their long-cherished family homes and properties after decades in exile. Social differences within Gaza are also astutely explored. These stories are acts of resistance and defiance, proclaiming the endurance of Palestinians and the continuing resilience and creativity of their culture in the face of ongoing obstacles and attempts to silence them.
Refaat Alareer, a son of Shijaiyeh in Gaza, gained an M.A. in English Literature from University College, London, and a Ph.D from the University of Malaya. He was a beloved professor of English literature and literature in English at the Islamic University of Gaza and a leader in the "We Are Not Numbers" educational organization. In December 2023 the Israeli military killed him in a targeted operation, leaving behind his wife and six children one of whom was also killed in early 2024 along with her newborn child.
Ali Abunimah, a Palestinian American leader in the campaign for Palestinian rights, is the founding director of the Electronic Intifada website and the author of One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse. He gained his B.A. from Princeton University and an M.A. from the University of Chicago. His commentaries have been widely published on many platforms.
