Young people share powerful stories of both the obvious, and the more subtle impacts, of Israeli
occupation on their lives (Pic: Pikrepo)
In We Are Not Numbers (WANN), Ahmed Alnaouq and Pam Bailey present the stories of young Palestinians experiencing Israel’s brutal conduct in Gaza and the West Bank.
The authors of the book are 75 young Palestinains in Gaza, the West Bank and the
diaspora. They present their witness testimony in the form of poems and essays which detail their lives from 2015 to today.
Their stories range from descriptions of direct Israeli assaults to the incalculable ways the occupation has indirectly impacted their lives.
These writings are an invaluable resource, making us aware of both the obvious, and the more subtle, impacts of Israeli occupation on Palestinian lives.
The writers featured in WANN highlight the wide-ranging natures of the struggles they endure.
They describe the ordinary, human pain all people experience, which persists even when surviving Israeli attacks. Things like losing a job, experiencing heartbreak and the stigma attached to being overweight.
The book is a reminder of the need to centre the humanity of the Palestinian people in discussions around Israel’s actions.
Whilst emphasising the scale of Israel’s war crimes and their genocidal nature, the stories show that we must not stop seeing the Palestinians as people first.
The young writers show the strength and resilience of the human spirit.
Each story tells of love and community, even in the most trying circumstances.
The book shows that while 7 October 2023 was a catalyst for brutality on a massive scale, violence has been a feature of life for generations of Palestinians.
From the Nakba of 1948 to the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank after the Six Day War of 1967, violence and ethnic cleansing are a constant feature of Israel’s behaviour towards the Palestinians.
Restrictions on movement an access to goods and services have shaped life on the Gaza Strip for decades.
And then there is the impact of the five Israeli wars waged on Gaza since 2005 and the numerous bombing raids and smaller incursions.
The stories of the young Gazans in WANN give us a glimpse of everyday life under such conditions.
The young writers included in WANN communicate just how far-reaching and all-encompassing the impact of the Israeli occupation has been.
It is difficult to think of the young writers in WANN and speculate about their lives right now.
Undoubtedly, the impact of the genocide has been devastating for them all. Their stories must be read.
