we are not numbers

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

Mosab Abu Toha

    Mosab, 23, was born in Beach Camp to the west of Gaza City. He is a 2014 graduate in English language from the Islamic University of Gaza. His graduation ceremony was supposed to be held in July 2014, but was postponed until that September due to the Israeli assault. Mosab lost two of his close friends during the aggression and his house was critically damaged 20 hours after his family evacuated. During the conflict, he worked as a translator for foreign journalists for 14 days, during which time he witnessed numerous atrocities committed by the Israeli army. These experiences fueled his passion for reading and writing. Mosab still hopes to travel outside Gaza to complete his postgraduate studies and experience how other people live, think and feel.

    my work

    The first time I ever lost a close friend was during the 2014 Israeli assault, when my best friend Ezzat was murdered by Israeli forces.
    More than 50,000 workers in Gaza are forced to work at vital public-sector jobs without full or even regular pay.
    Maybe, we think, a stray breath of air, away from the heaviness of the dark nights and the memory of the violence of the past summer, will relieve the burden on our shoulders.