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I must admit that I’m slightly struggling to write this review. There is a feeling that no matter what I say, it’ll be hopelessly inadequate compared to the actual content in this book.
‘Gaza Writes Back’ is a collection of short stories written (in English, except for two) by young Palestinian authors, specifically 3 men and 12 women. The collection originated as a way to commemorate the 5th anniversary of Israel’s 2008-09 military offensive on Gaza known as ‘Operation Cast Lead.’
The editor of this book was Refaat Alareer, a scholar, poet, and activist who was killed by an IDF airstrike on 6 December 2023, along with his brother, nephew, his sister, and three of her children.
A word that comes to mind when describing these stories is “immediacy.” They were born out of very immediate experiences and as such, they don’t filter anything out. The smell of burning flesh. The brains of children splattered across the street. This is the reality of war, and these stories leave nothing out.
Death and violence are of course major themes. However, it should be noted that these writers also tackle issues that one might not necessarily suspect, such as social disparity, generational differences, and even unrequited romantic love.
But these stories are more than just honest. They are masterfully written. All of these writers have a real talent for imagery, plot structure, and some passages are downright lyrical. The contrast between the often bleak subject matter and the aesthetic way in which it is expressed distil into the complex ambiguity that makes true art so impactful.
It’s easy to feel powerless regarding Gaza, particularly faced with the impunity under which the occupiers are allowed to proceed with mass murder. But books like these are a key tool of resistance. The goal of genocide is not merely to slaughter a people. It’s to erase them from history, memory. Stories, in this sense, are a powerful act of rebellion. For as long as there are stories from and about Palestinians, and people reading and sharing those stories, this genocide can never be completed.
just thoughts 