In the middle of this rainy friday, I (@tristiul) recited poem from Refaat Alareer (1979-2023), prominent Palestinian Poet, Writer, and Educator.
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Cited from @ajplus, Refaat Alareer has been killed, reportedly in an Israeli airstrike that also killed several close family members in Gaza.
Refaat encouraged young Palestinians to use writing and storytelling as a means of resistance. He edited the book “Gaza Writes Back,” a collection of stories from young Palestinian writers in occupied Gaza, and co-edited “Gaza Unsilenced,” an essay collection. He was known on X, or Twitter, as @itranslate123, where he shared a poem just over a month before his killing titled “If I Must Die.”
Refaat once taught poetry, literature and creative writing at the Islamic University in Gaza, which has since been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes. Israel’s attacks have also killed the university’s chairman, Dr. Sufian Tayeh.
In 2015, he was one of the key speakers at the first TEDx event ever held in Gaza.
Refaat is among over 17,000 Palestinians who have been killed by Israel’s attacks since October 7. At least 28 of them were writers, poets, artists, musicians or dancers, and among those, at least 4 were children.
Israel’s assault has also damaged at least 300 schools and educational facilities, and killed at least 183 teachers in Gaza.
Senior Editor: Kareem Yasin
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Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raaji’un.
May Allah grant him jannah.
May Allah pave pathway of victory closer for Palestine, not only for Muslims but for the sake of all creatures in universe.
P.S. Sorry for my bad pronunciation of my reading, still struggling to fix and elevate my english speaking🫡
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Poem by Refaat Alareer
Recited by Tristia Riskawati
Footage and editing are powered by CapCut
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