we are not numbers

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

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WANN activities report for August 2022

In August, WANN published 17 stories, news items, and poems and provided inside coverage of the Israeli aggression.

Stories

young man lying on couch and looking at mobile screenIn August, WANN published 17 stories, news items, and poems.

Are we going to survive?

August 5, 2022 | Abdallah Ayman Hasaneen talks about his feelings during the last aggression on Gaza and the dark memories he retains from previous aggressions.

In an instant, the happy atmosphere changes

August 5, 2022 | Ahmad Sultan Wuhidi describes how the happy occasion of first meeting his aunt and his cousin, who live abroad, turned to moments of terror as the Israeli aggression started in Gaza.

In the absence of peace

August 5, 2022 | In poetic words, Shahd Safi expresses how the children of Gaza experienced the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

Your eyes are poetry

August 6, 2022 | Shahd Safi highlights in her poem the unhealthy codependent relationships and mental disorders that have developed because of all the hardships Gazans are experiencing.

Targeting Gaza: Israeli elections promise more of the same

August 19, 2022 | Ahmed Alnaouq explains how right-wing Israeli incumbents direct the bombing of Gaza to prove to their electorate that they are strong enough to lead.

The aftershock of trauma: Gaza, August 2022

August, 2022 | Shahd Safi talks about the trauma that people of Gaza will be left with long after the 2022’s aggression ended.

Here comes the night

August, 2022 | Samah Atef explains how nighttime is horrifying and hard to endure For Gazans during the aggression.

A midnight Gazan tale

August, 2022 | Sara Hegy expresses in her story how she and her mother were forced to evacuate their house due to the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

We’re still under last year’s rubble

August, 2022 | Hossam Wail Abo-Shammallah talks in his story about how Gazan are still not healed from previous aggressions and are haunted by memories of them.

My home

August 21, 2022 | Using poetry, Eman Ashraf Alhaj Ali expresses how Gazans can’t feel safe in their own homes because they might get bombed at any second.

Interrupted graduation

August 27, 2022 | Aseel Zeineddin relates how her sister’s graduation from medical school was interrupted by Israeli strikes and the announcement that a new aggression had begun.

Am I a witness

August 28, 2022 | Sarah Shurrab reflects in her poem on the aggressions on Gaza and the many other horrible events that have taken place in her homeland.

War habits

August 28, 2022 | Mahmoud AlYazji talks in his story about how hard it is for Gazans to live a normal life, since it can be turned upside down in a moment.

Shopping for a new war

August 29, 2022 | Ahmed Dremly describes Israel’s aggressions on Gaza as the new normal that Gazans have become accustomed to and acquired habits to adjust.

Oh, my dear God! Here we go again!

August 29, 2022 | Baraa’h Qandeel describes how she reacted to the news of the new aggression on Gaza.

I don’t have anyplace safe

August 29, 2022 | Khaled Mohammed El-Hessy narrates how his normal family gathering was ruined by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Déjà vu, in black and white

August 30, 2022 | Malak Reyad Alhaw tells the story of how her cousin’s wedding was ruined and suspended all of a sudden because of Israeli airstrikes.

See all stories.

Events

WANN helps build up our writers, through writing of course, but also through educational, civic, and cultural activities.

Israeli aggression on Gaza – 2022 coverage

August 5-10 2022 | The WANN team contributed to the media coverage of the 2022 Israeli aggression on Gaza City. The aggression started on Friday afternoon, August 5 and lasted for three days. Massive bombing caused the deaths of 48 Palestinians from Gaza, while 360 were injured.  Our writers participated effectively in the coverage by writing essays, news articles, and poems –published at the WANN website and in other outlets such as Mondoweiss – expressing their feelings, fears, and personal insights during the aggression.

Bomb explodes in Gaza 2022

IG Live with WANN writers on the reality of Gaza during the aggression

August 7, 2022 | Two of our remarkable writers, Samah Atef and Hossam AbuShammallh, appeared on IG live that addressed the reality of Gaza during the recent Israeli aggression. Our writers talked about their personal experiences, feelings, and fears during the aggression.

Text, Gaza writers want to tell you the reality of what is happening in Gaza.

Interview with Pakistan’s national television station, PTV

August 8, 2022 | Enas Ghannam, WANN project manager, was hosted by Pakistan’s national television during the latest aggression on Gaza. Enas provided a detailed account of the on-the-ground situation. You can see the interview here.

Screen shot of woman being interviewed by TV broadcaster.

 Twitter Space: WANN writers tell their story during the latest military aggression on the Gaza Strip

August 8, 2022 | Afaf Al-Najar, Mohamed Asalia, and Raneem Abdu participated in a Twitter space session, moderated by Walaa Sabah, to tell their story during the latest Israeli aggression against civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Text, Gaza writers want to tell you the reality of what is happening in Gaza.

Interview with Almagharibia TV

August 8, 2022 | Enas Ghannam, WANN project manager, was interviewed by Almagharibia TV on how the children of Gaza endured the latest Israeli aggression and the terrors they faced during it. Almagharibia is a London-based Algerian TV channel. You can watch the full interview here.

Screen shot of two women in TV interview.

Short story writing with Ra Page, CEO of Comma Press

August 11, 2022 | WANN writers met with Ra Page, the CEO of Comma Press, who shared his knowledge about short story writing. This session was crucial for the writers to get guidelines on writing short stories and apply them to their writings.

Group of people at WANN office.

Palestine Deep Dive Interview with WANNer on the struggles for children of living in Gaza

August 12, 2022 | WANN writer, Hind Wahidi, was invited on Palestine Deep Dive to talk about her life as a child growing up in Gaza and the traumas and fears she has faced as a result. She appeared in a panel session, entitled “Gaza: Israel’s one million child prison,” which was moderated by Ahmed Alnouq, a member of WANN’s board of directors. Watch a recording of the event.

 

Screenshot of four people in online Palestine Deep Dive interview.

Podcast with Medi 1

Walaa Sabah, WANN outreach officer, Samah Atef, Yasmin Matter, and Ibrahim Younis participated in a podcast by the Tunisian radio- Medi1- on the role of youth in telling the Palestinian narrative and the role of story-telling in changing the perspective of societies. The full podcast is available here

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Antisemitism session with Alice Rothchild

August 14, 2022 | WANN held a session for the writers at which Alice Rothchild addressed the subject of antisemitism. She covered the meaning of the term and how it is used appropriately. She also explained how the term can be exploited, noting that despite the recent violations of Israel during the recent aggression on Gaza, Israelis label anyone who criticizes their country’s policies as “antisemitic.” A retired doctor, Alice manages WANN’s mentoring program and is working on several of her own writing projects.

Laptop with screenshot of Alice Rothchild.

“WANN Reports” project on writing for journalism

August 15, 2022 | A new project was launched for WANN writers under the name of ‘WANN Reports.” The objective is to teach writers journalism fundamentals and learn techniques for writing stories that can be picked up by international media agencies.

“Gaza Valley” film production

August 21, 2022 | In partnership with Hani Sani for Palestine Studies, WANN produced a film addressing the issue of water pollution in the Gaza Strip and its impact on people living there. The video is available to watch on YouTube.

Videoclip depicting Gaza Valley.

“Great Titles, Great Openings & Great One-Sentences Summaries” with Catherine Baker

August 22, 2022 | WANN hosted a presentation by Catherine Baker on crafting the elements that frame a story. Catherine offered tips for titles, openings, and summaries that attract readers and persuade them to check out the story. Catherine is a senior editor with WANN.

TExt from powerpoint: A title can involve word play.

United for Justice Across Palestine: Defund Israel’s Bombs, Blockade, and Bulldozers IG Live

August 24, 2022 | Walaa Sabah, community outreach and partnership officer at WANN, appeared in an IG live hosted by the Palestinian Policy Network. The event was moderated by Mariam Barghouti, general director of Addameer and senior Palestine correspondent at Mondoweiss. The session addressed how Palestinians redefine their narrative and resistance as they face different modes of Israeli state violence and as they call for justice for Palestinians and the defunding of Israel’s war making complex.

Instagram announcement.

Who wrote this?

Baraa’h Qandeel.This activities report was prepared by Baraa’h Qandeel, WANN writer. Baraa’h means innocence in Arabic.

Baraa’h joined We Are Not Numbers in 2021. Since then, she has written many stories and participated in many activities with WANN. She has a bachelor’s degree in translation. She works as a content writer, translator, and social media marketer.

Baraa’h believes in justice and women’s empowerment and she is a great defender of them. She is a dreamer and a fighter and always aspires for the best for her future.

 

We Are Not Numbers is a project of the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.

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