Gaza Writer and Professor tragically killed in airstrike following CNN interview on their desperate situation
Renowned Gaza professor and influential writer, Refaat Alareer, tragically killed in an airstrike Despite his prominence, he faced the agonizing decision of staying in his Gaza City home or risking further southward displacement with his wife and six children Heart-wrenching memories of war haunt his legacy
Refat Alareer was faced with a decision in October - whether to remain in his home in the heart of Gaza City or to escape further south with his wife and six children.
During the Israeli warplane attacks on northern Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) instructed civilians to evacuate their homes promptly and head south. One civilian, Alareer, faced a difficult decision - stay and risk death, or attempt to flee without any protection. The 44-year-old writer and academic explained to CNN that his family had no option but to stay in the north, as they had nowhere else to go.
The professor of comparative literature at the Islamic University of Gaza, Alareer, was well-known for documenting the experiences of Gazans. He played a key role in mentoring young Palestinian writers and supporting them in sharing their stories in English, as reported by friends and colleagues.
Alareer spoke to CNN from Gaza City on October 12 and 13, providing written consent to share the recording in the event of his death.
Weeks later, on December 7, Alareer was killed by a strike in Shajaiya, northern Gaza. His friend and colleague, Jehad Abusalim, confirmed to CNN that Alareer was staying with his brother, sister, and her four children, who were also killed. Abusalim, a 35-year-old writer based in Washington, DC, provided this information.
He left behind his wife, and children aged 7 to 21. CNN has been unable to reach members of Alareers family.
Photo of Refaat Alareer picking strawberries in Gaza on March 27, 2022, taken by his friend and colleague, Mosab Abu Toha.
In 2014, Alareer revised "Gaza Writes Back," a collection of short stories by young writers recounting their experiences under the Israeli blockade. He also co-edited "Gaza Unsilenced," a publication from 2015 featuring essays, photos, and poetry that captured the suffering, loss, and resilience of Palestinians besieged by Israel. Alareer also contributed to "Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire," an anthology released in 2022. A native of Gaza City, he pursued studies at University College London and SOAS in London.
Additionally, Alareer co-founded "We Are Not Numbers," a non-profit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of Palestinian youth in Gaza and refugee camps.
"We have faith and belief in our just cause to fight for freedom and basic human rights. We have been stripped of this," he told CNN.
Israel initiated its military operation in Gaza with the goal of ousting Hamas and rescuing over 240 hostages taken during the militant group's attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people in Israel.
This image, captured on December 3, 2023, in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip border, depicts the smoke rising from the Palestinian enclave amidst Israeli bombardment during the ongoing conflict with Hamas. On that day, Israel conducted deadly airstrikes in Gaza, prompting international calls for the protection of civilians and the extension of an expired truce with Hamas. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)
Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images
CNN Gaza reporters relatives killed and childhood home destroyed in two separate strikes
Between October 7 and December 9, Israeli strikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of approximately 17,700 Palestinians, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah. According to the report, the majority of those killed were women, children, and the elderly. While CNN has not been able to verify the exact number of casualties, the Israel Defense Forces stated that they have targeted over 22,000 sites in Gaza during this time period.
The IDF is making efforts to reduce civilian casualties and blames Hamas for hiding within civilian infrastructure. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has cautioned that there is inadequate protection for civilians in Gaza. Human rights organizations have labeled Israel's attacks on civilians and their forced removal as war crimes.
During his CNN interview, Alareer urged the international community to recognize the humanity of the Palestinian people, emphasizing the importance of empathizing with their pain and putting oneself in their shoes. Prior to this, he wrote a poem titled "If I must die," anticipating his potential death.
After Alareers passed away, individuals in both New York and London organized vigils to pay tribute to his legacy. However, some of his remarks have sparked controversy among Palestinians, particularly his description of the October 7 attacks as a "pre-emptive attack by Palestinian resistance" that was "legitimate and moral" during a BBC interview.
Memories of war
The threat of death is not unfamiliar to Gazan civilians, who have endured years of living under siege. Alareer recalled how the recent Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave brought back his early memories of war.
Hailing from Shajaiya in the eastern region of Gaza City, he recounted how his family had to move to the Tel-al-Hawa area of the city after their house was demolished by Israeli airstrikes during the 2014 war, which tragically took the life of his younger brother, 27-year-old Hamada.
"It's a subject we avoid discussing. We don't even want to contemplate the repeated destruction of children, homes, and lives every few years," he remembered.
He said the impact of strikes hitting a building makes it seem like "the entire earth is shaking." "Even the sound of a door closing can trigger these memories," he added. "That's why we often say that Palestinians never truly experience post-war trauma. It's constant."
Refaat Alareer (on the left) is seen enjoying the company of his friends and colleagues, Yousef Aljamal (in the center) and Jehad Abusalim (on the right), as they ride the Staten Island Ferry in New York during a book tour in 2014.
Jehad Abusalim mentioned that after nine years, he and numerous other parents in Gaza feel a sense of helplessness and despair as they are unable to protect themselves and their children from Israel's ongoing strikes.
He recounted the emotional and physical suffering endured by Palestinian children during the bombardment. "It typically begins with intense fear in the initial days," he explained. "This then transitions to a sense of numbness, complete apathy, and complete surrender."
"When there's bombing around, prayer is hurried and meals are abandoned. You want to embrace your children as usual, tell them stories, and affectionately pat them on the head," he said. "But you hesitate, not wanting to give or receive a hug that feels like a farewell."
"We measure the passage of time based on the wars our children endure. Despite being a vocal critic of Israel, he has made comments that have offended people outside of Gaza. He has been willing to be interviewed by numerous news outlets in support of Palestinian rights."
During his BBC interview, Alareer not only defended the October 7 attacks but also likened them to the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the most significant Jewish resistance effort in history during the Holocaust. In response to his comments, a BBC spokesperson announced that they found his remarks offensive and they do not plan to invite him as a commentator again.
Towering figure in Palestinian society
He subsequently alleged that Israel had concocted proof of Hamas committing sexual assault on October 7. CNN documented accounts from survivors who either personally witnessed sexual violence or encountered unmistakable evidence of it.
Alareer started teaching literature, creative writing, poetry, translation, and Shakespeare at the Islamic University of Gaza in 2007. He identified himself as both a writer and an educator. Following his passing on Thursday, he received heartfelt tributes from friends, colleagues, and students worldwide.
Ra Page, 51, is the publisher and founder of Comma Press in Manchester, England. He collaborated with Alareer on various literary projects and workshops, with their first in-person meeting taking place in Gaza City in August 2022.
Reflecting on their time together, Page shared, "My fondest memories are of jumping into his hilariously small car - definitely the smallest, quirkiest, possibly oldest car in Gaza - and driving around while listening to audiobooks and podcasts with him. He loved audio literature." Page spoke with CNN on Friday.
"He was incredibly generous, above all. Gracious, gentle, patient, and funny with a wicked sense of humor," he added.
"He consistently championed others before himself, even though he was a talented writer. His main goal was to provide a platform and support for other writers."
This photo, captured by Ra Page, shows Alareer (left) sitting across from Page's wife, Basma el Farra (right), at el-Bakka restaurant bar during their final evening together in Gaza City, in August 2022.
Courtesy Ra Page
Alareer was a "towering figure in Palestinian society," said Abusalim, the writer and friend based in Washington, DC.
Refaat faced numerous challenges in his life. Despite personal tragedies and the hardships of living in Gaza, he remained resolute. He utilized his writing and speaking skills to push back against adversity, as he shared with CNN. Abusalim emphasized that his teaching went beyond simply sharing information; it was about empowering others and utilizing language as a tool to combat oppression.
Laila El-Haddad, a Gazan journalist and author residing in Maryland, stated that Alareer has "mentored a whole generation of Palestinian writers in Gaza." El-Haddad, 45, mentioned that he taught them "how to utilize English, the language of the nations responsible for and involved in their displacement, genocide, and blockade, to tell their own narratives."
Rawan Yaghi, a 30-year-old writer based in Canada who was mentored by Alareer, described him as a "champion of literary resistance." "His passion for storytelling was contagious. He embodied strength, perseverance, love, and camaraderie," she recounted to CNN.
"We remember and carry on Refaats legacy. Refaat the storyteller, father, husband, son, teacher, and friend."
CNNs Kareem Khadder, Ibrahim Dahman and Eyad Kourdi contributed reporting.
