As 2023 came to an end and wistfulness filled the air with hopes for new tidings, the whole world was left startled by the unfolding of the largest humanitarian crisis of this century.
While we lamented the visuals of unimaginable destruction, loss, and insurmountable pain, people were living that reality. Men, women, and children with plans for the weekend and dreams to fulfil, many wrapping up their chores early to take a walk by the sea.
Surviving war isn't a blanket experience; there are many facets which remain unheard. This collection is pertinent in bringing focus to the diverse human stories behind the crisis, the emotions that rang loudly in the silence of the night, when the shutters went down, and the dust had settled. Throughout the year, 30 people living in the Gaza Strip, of varied ages and ethnicities, penned their feelings, fears, memories, thoughts, and hopes on the tempestuous days of war. Each story is a reminder of the world held within every person and how humanity at large was at stake with them.
Collected and compiled by Mahmoud and Mohammed, two prolific writers in Gaza, this collection stands as a testament to unparalleled resilience and unveils the unimaginable emotional scars of war.