Overview

North American edition with an exclusive afterword and photographs INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BESTSELLER In early October 2023, Palestinian Plestia Alaqad was a recent university graduate dreaming of a career as a journalist. But by the end of November, her homeland was unrecognizable--and she was broadcasting videos of violence and destruction to millions online, known across the world as ""The Eyes of Gaza."" A series of diary extracts from the weeks following October 7, The Eyes of Gaza is a gutting, on-the-ground record of the turmoil and destruction endured by the men, women, and children of Palestine. As Alaqad flees from neighborhood to neighborhood, from hospital to hospital, she documents all she sees--the destruction of beloved homes, the waves of bombs, and most of all, the boundless bravery and generosity of her people--all the while trying to memorize the faces of those around her ""so somebody will have known them before the end,"" wondering if, one day, her own journal will be discovered amidst the rubble. A document of the indomitable Palestinian spirit, told through the voice of one ordinary young woman, The Eyes of Gaza is a tribute to Alaqad's beloved Gaza, a paean to the courage and endurance of Palestine, and a manifesto of hope for its future.

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9780316597456

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Reviews

""The Eyes of Gaza transforms pain into poetry, offering readers an unfiltered glimpse into the depths of loss, hope and survival.""--Rupi Kaur, poet and New York Times bestselling author of Milk and Honey ""How do you get over a genocide? The question Plestia asks is rhetorical, yet it lingers long after the page is turned, heavy with grief and impossible to answer. Plestia is more than a journalist, she is a witness, a storyteller and an unrelenting seeker of truth. With a camera in one hand and a pen in the other, she has dedicated her life to ensuring the world does not look away. Through her lens, she captures not only the devastation of genocide in Gaza, but also the weight of a lifetime lived under Israeli occupation. Her writing is deeply personal, at times reading like a journal entry or a letter from a friend. She weaves hope and pain so seamlessly that it often hurts to read, each word a testament to both resilience and loss. Plestia's ink serves as the veins of Gaza, giving life to stories that might otherwise be erased. With striking imagery and intimate detail, her reporting is more than documentation, it is resistance. Her words left me both devastated and inspired--moved by the strength found in community, the unwavering spirit of her people, and the urgent need for collective liberation.""--Macklemore ""Plestia Alaqad became our eyes in Gaza and has forever taken a huge piece of our hearts. In this series of diary entries, she welcomes us to live through the genocide again but, this time, with greater intimacy. It reveals a tender and infallible optimism that siege and systematic war have failed to crush. The Eyes of Gaza gives us a glimpse of how the most noble of people not only survived a genocide but are more resolute than ever that their future is freedom and that the future is Palestine.""--Noura Erakat ""The raw truth of The Eyes of Gaza hurts. But what's the point of anything if we can't face the truth? Palestinians are just like us; they feel as we feel. Please read this joyful, tragic account of life in Gaza. And celebrate Plestia Alaqad's courage and skill and stop the killing.""--Miriam Margoyles, OBE, BAFTA-award winning actor and author of This Much Is True

""Much like the diary of Anne Frank, Plestia Alaqad has penned an audit of one young woman's life...written with humor, impossible optimism, faith, and sometimes despair.""--Susan Abulhawa, author of Mornings in Jenin ""While [Alaqad] documents the expected horrors--murdered loved ones, destroyed homes, nightly terror--she wants readers to remember that there is more to Gaza and to being Palestinian than endless suffering. In this moving account, she describes the beauty of her hometown and the fierce joy of Palestinian children at play...The attacks, deprivation, and destruction are never over, ""ceasefire is merely the space between tragedies,"" yet Palestinians will always find a way to maintain sumud, their steadfast connection to their homeland, amidst 'the unbearable weight of memories that cannot be undone.'""--Booklist (starred review) ""Raw and brave...This is an important record of unfathomable brutality, which Alaqad describes with clarity and candor. An arresting personal history of loss and survival in besieged Gaza.""--Kirkus Reviews ""The Eyes of Gaza transforms pain into poetry, offering readers an unfiltered glimpse into the depths of loss, hope and survival.""--Rupi Kaur, poet and New York Times bestselling author of Milk and Honey ""How do you get over a genocide? The question Plestia asks is rhetorical, yet it lingers long after the page is turned, heavy with grief and impossible to answer. Plestia is more than a journalist, she is a witness, a storyteller and an unrelenting seeker of truth. With a camera in one hand and a pen in the other, she has dedicated her life to ensuring the world does not look away. Through her lens, she captures not only the devastation of genocide in Gaza, but also the weight of a lifetime lived under Israeli occupation. Her writing is deeply personal, at times reading like a journal entry or a letter from a friend. She weaves hope and pain so seamlessly that it often hurts to read, each word a testament to both resilience and loss. Plestia's ink serves as the veins of Gaza, giving life to stories that might otherwise be erased. With striking imagery and intimate detail, her reporting is more than documentation, it is resistance. Her words left me both devastated and inspired--moved by the strength found in community, the unwavering spirit of her people, and the urgent need for collective liberation.""--Macklemore ""Plestia Alaqad became our eyes in Gaza and has forever taken a huge piece of our hearts. In this series of diary entries, she welcomes us to live through the genocide again but, this time, with greater intimacy. It reveals a tender and infallible optimism that siege and systematic war have failed to crush. The Eyes of Gaza gives us a glimpse of how the most noble of people not only survived a genocide but are more resolute than ever that their future is freedom and that the future is Palestine.""--Noura Erakat ""The raw truth of The Eyes of Gaza hurts. But what's the point of anything if we can't face the truth? Palestinians are just like us; they feel as we feel. Please read this joyful, tragic account of life in Gaza. And celebrate Plestia Alaqad's courage and skill and stop the killing.""--Miriam Margoyles, OBE, BAFTA-award winning actor and author of This Much Is True

Author Information

Plestia Alaqad is a Palestinian journalist and author who has emerged as a vital voice in the midst of the destruction in Gaza. At just twenty-one years old, she captivated audiences with her raw and poignant coverage of her surroundings. Through her unflinching dispatches shared on social media, Alaqad has offered the world an unfiltered glimpse into the harrowing realities of life under siege, her experiences resonating deeply with millions across the globe. In November 2023, as the war escalated, Alaqad and her family were forced to leave Gaza. Since then, she has been awarded the Shireen Abu Akleh Memorial Scholarship for a master's in media studies at the American University of Beirut, where she continues to advocate for justice. Her advocacy has transcended borders, drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine and calling for freedom and accountability. Alaqad's remarkable journalism has earned her multiple prestigious accolades, including being named one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2024 and winning the One Young World Journalist of the Year Award, the Lyra McKee Award for Bravery, and a Human Rights Defender Award.

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