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WANN

we are not numbers

emerging writers from Palestine tell their stories and advocate for their human rights

Huda Skaik

    Huda Saik is an English literature student at Islamic University of Gaza. She dreams of a future as a professor, poet, and writer.

    Tranquil by name and nature, Huda’s being is defined by passion and reflected in her diligence, perseverance, and unwavering focus. She loves walking and taking photos of beautiful things, capturing the essence of beauty in every detail she encounters. She lives in the heart of Gaza City’s A-Rimal, where her love for nature’s myriad wonders — winter’ s embrace, the symphony of sunsets, the moon’s gentle glow, and the tranquil nights — inspires and captivates her soul.

    She believes in the power of storytelling and pens words that resonate with the spirit of Palestinians. She seeks to illuminate the essence of Gaza, sharing its profound meaning with the world.

    Amidst the turmoil of conflict, writing is her solace. It fills her days with purpose and meaning. In the corridors of IUG’s English Department, and driven by a profound love for poetry and stories, she learns not just about literature but life itself.

    Current as of June 2024

    Huda.

    my work

    Sunrise over Gaza City.

    Still resisting

    The sun rises over Gaza / piercing another suffocating night / after the atrocities of an endless siege. 
    Huda Skaik
      Makeshift tents along a muddy path, with a cold and cloudy sky above.

      Struggling through winter in southern Gaza

      Harsh weather, inadequate shelter, and ongoing attacks create a dire situation that threatens our very survival.
      Huda Skaik
        Mother weeping over a shrouded child, with Palestinian flag in background.

        Echoes of wars’ nights

        Hush! Listen closely! Can you hear someone’s last breath / Can you hear it? Can you feel it? / Can you imagine it?
        Huda Skaik
          Bombing on neighborhood of Gaza.

          City of shadows  

          A ghostly city, devoid of life / Like scenes from the movies, full of strife.
          Huda Skaik
            Young woman on Islamic University of Gaza campus.

            Education is resistance

            It’s much harder to keep learning in the midst of Israel’s war on Gaza. But it’s not impossible, and it’s imperative.
            Huda Skaik
              A crowd of female graduates at a graduation ceremony.

              There’s no such thing as back to school in Gaza

              Thousands of students want the war to end so they can resume studies and work toward dreams that have been derailed.
              Huda Skaik
                Composite photo of father with birth certificates in front of twin babies.

                Between birth and dust

                In Gaza, Mohammad sought to register / the birth of his twins Aser and Aysel, / only three days old
                Huda Skaik
                  Shoreline in Gaza.

                  Haunted by suffering, held by hope

                  The dream of returning to a normal life in northern Gaza fuels my endurance.
                  Huda Skaik
                    Back of woman looking at quadcopter in the sky.

                    Tell them

                    Tell them / Tell them / we are more than numbers / more than silent echoes / in a ledger of loss
                    Huda Skaik
                      Destroyed multi-story home in Gaza City.

                      Surviving a siege in Gaza City

                      Nine days of terror end with a terrifying confrontation with IDF soldiers and a forced displacement to the south.
                      Huda Skaik
                        Faces of three people with text "Stop the killing."

                        Echoes from Gaza

                        I want to shout, scream, and cry, / For every soul beneath Gaza's sky.
                        Huda Skaik