A Bridge to Burn: The Palestinian Intellectual and the Struggle for Liberation
‘Gaza Writes Back,’ edited by Refaat Alareer, is an anthology of stories from young Gazan writers, reflecting on life under siege and the 2008-2009 “Operation Cast Lead.” Published by Just World Books in 2014. “I am an academic. Probably the toughest thing I have at home is an Expo marker. But if the Israelis invade, […]
Standing Together: The Importance of True Unity Amongst Pro-Palestinian Groups
“Come together, O people of Palestine, come together. Palestine did not bid you farewell; it left, Palestine did not bid you farewell. On Chinese paper, I write with ink on Chinese paper, O Palestine, for what has happened to you, O Palestine.” A song by Halima Al-Kassawani (Um Abdul Halim) Tweet National unity and the […]
Connected Against All Odds: Exploring the Telecommunications Landscape in Gaza
Foreword: Amidst a landscape deeply scarred by ongoing hostilities, a beacon of resilience shines through the chaos in Palestine. The unwavering spirit of the people in Gaza is evident in their pursuit of connecting to the world against all odds. This is not just a story of innovative communication technology, but a strong testament to […]
Do You Condemn?
“Do You Condemn?” These three words form a loaded question with epideictic and controversial assumptions that refuse to acknowledge the root cause of the problem of Palestine and how we ended up at this historical point. Immediately asking if one condemns completely disregards the historical context of the oppression and occupation of Palestine. It’s a question […]
On Heritage and Heartache: Traditional Textile and Embroidery from Gaza
Foreword: “As individuals immersed in preserving embroidery and textiles from the Levant, we cherish those who practice traditional techniques and wish to remain connected with them. You can imagine the horror of learning that one of the last weavers of the renowned Majdalawi fabric of Gaza has fallen victim to the Israeli onslaught on the strip, […]
“Cedar Exodus”: EcoRove Reclaims the Narrative of the Cedar Tree
Note from Al Rawiya Team: Many in Lebanon and outside of it have a tumultuous relationship with the Cedrus libani — the infamous Lebanese Cedar tree — relating it to the narratives that many right-wing politicians inside the country or many foreign colonial and imperialist entities have promoted. Linking a variety of disciplines together in […]
Counter-mapping: Using Open-Source Data as a Tool Against the Occupation in Palestine
On October 25, 2023, videos poured out in Al Saraya, Gaza, that displayed a large cloud of smoke drifting into the skies, as a result of an Israeli airstrike. Bomb clouds are architecture in gaseous form: they consist of many aspects of what was once a building–cement, concrete, metal, wood, and more. They occupy the […]
Forgotten Bonds
Foreword: If there was ever a certainty of what one might experience in Lebanon, it was uncertainty. It didn’t matter if you were born here or recently moved here, what plagued us all was the constant sound of someone telling you: you are different. It was uncompromising in its stance even if the image of […]
We Are Not Numbers: Remembering Refaat Alareer, the Voice of Gaza
Foreword: “As Palestinians, no matter what comes of this, we haven’t failed. We did our best. And we didn’t lose our humanity.” Every day, we hear of numbers. Numbers of deaths, numbers of injuries, numbers of rockets, numbers of airstrikes. Numbers that are supposed to represent the reality of the war in Gaza, but […]
Environmental Devastation by the Occupier: Unraveling the Silent Crisis
In the turbulent landscape of war, where the focus often rests on human conflict and geopolitical struggles, a silent crisis is unfolding — ecocide. This term, pointing to the purposeful damage and destruction of ecosystems, encapsulates the devastating impact of armed conflicts on the environment, magnifying the consequences of war beyond human suffering. Addressing the […]