In May-June 2023, WANN published 12 stories, 3 WANN Reports, and 3 poems; engaged in 7 activities; and held 10 trainings.
Essays
May 7, 2023 I Rahaf Abuzarifa I The joy of a 2014 reunion with relatives in Gaza was tempered by the terror of bombing and Israel’s border incursion.
May 10, 2023 I Alia Kassab I A young writer searches for meaning as the bombs fall on Gaza yet again.
The disharmony between studying and war
May 12, 2023 I Rahaf Abuzarifa I How can you study when bombs are falling around you, or care about exams when others are dying?
36 hours of paralyzing silence
May 15, 2023 I Dana Besaiso I Only in Gaza: the tortured waiting until, in a blink of an eye, the peaceful night turns into a new wave of aggression.
What did this child do wrong, to be murdered by Israel?
May 25, 2023 I Haya Ismail I Eight-year-old Ali is dead from an Israeli air strike, and his friend Jihad cannot comprehend it.
What will Gazaâs children remember?
May 2w, 2023 I Roaa Aladdin Missmeh  I Gaza children grow up thinking bombing is normal, creating shelter space is normal, and having plans disrupted by war is normal.
May 26, 2023 I Bisan Nabil Duhair I Gazans outside Gaza, as much as family members trapped inside, feel the terror of the bombardments on their homeland.
May 26, 2023 I Ahmed Maher Alshawwa I Living under repeated bombardment, Gazans are pushed to the limit.
May 27, 2023 I Dima Maher Ashour I Whatâs the effect of all the drones and F16s, laden with missiles, flying above Gazan children?
100 days of Israeli wars on Gaza
May 29, 2023 I Qasem Waleed El-Farra  I My development from an innocent child to a grown man has occurred side by side with wars.
Yazan Elyan: A symbol of hope and resilience
June 11, 2023Â I Alaa Mahdi Kudaih I His dreams were killed by the occupation, but his spirit lives on.
When drama joy becomes a fight for survivalÂ
June 12 , 2023 I Mohammed Zaher Hamo I I wished for unbounded happiness to be everlasting, but unfortunately, the war ruined it all.
See all stories.
WANN Reports
No country for the poor: A tragic journey from Gaza to Hatay
May 4, 2023 I Lubna Abdelwahab Abuhashem I Even after leaving Gaza, the family’s simple dreams did not escape the stench of destruction and killing.
âShe was my heavenâ: The tragic end of a Palestinian love story
May 15, 2023 I Nada Hazem Al Kahlout I âShe was a very kind person. Why did they kill her?â
Palestinians of Sudan speak of the war and the journey homeÂ
May 25, 2023 I Lubna Abdelwahab Abuhashem I âMy heart is shattered for Sudan. It is my second home.â
See all WANN Reports.
Poems
May 12, 2023 I Eman Ashraf Alhaj Ali I Another bomb explodes. Sharpnel flies. Another home collapses. Another martyr leaves without farewell.
May 23, 2023 I Baraah Qandeel I Whatâs the point of having wings when all the air is stolen?
June 17, 2023 I Qasem Waleed-El-Farra I The ashes on the backyard flower/Makes a puzzle only a Gazan/Could easily figure.
See all poems.
Activities
Instagram live stream
WANN held a live Instagram stream to discuss the situation in Gaza during the attack and Israel’s ongoing aggression. More than 100 listeners attended the live session, at which our writers shared their personal experiences, shed light on the devastating impact of aggression on all aspects of the lives of innocent civilians, and drew attention to the urgent need for a resolution that upholds Gazanâs rights and safety.
Video response to latest Israeli aggression
The latest Israeli occupation’s brutal actions in the Gaza Strip left 34 Palestinians killed, including 6 children and 3 women, plus another 93 injured, including 32 children and 17 women. In response, our writers filmed a video that highlights these victimsâ lives. The objective was to demonstrate that these are not mere numbers. Indeed, the Palestinian people killed and injured are individuals with emotions and sentiments, deserving of a life free from assaults and trauma. Watch the video.
Gaza portal program
WANN actively participated in meaningful discussions with American youth as part of the Gaza Portal program. This program is a partnership of Shared Studios and UN Live. These discussions included sharing stories and exploring the power of narrative in shaping our world. Such activities primarily aim to bridge the gap between Palestinians and Westerners through cultural exchange.
Meeting to establish a secure space for women
WANN has joined hands with an Italian civil society organizations and five other such organizations to collectively work towards the establishment of the International Womenâs House in Gaza. This was the first-ever meeting between Gazan and Italian civil society organizations. The main objective of this meeting was to lay the foundation for the creation of a secure and empowering environment dedicated to women. The envisioned International Womenâs House in Gaza seeks to provide a secure and empowering space where women can gather, share their experiences, and advocate for their rights.
Gaza portal and Doha portal
WANNers participated in the Gaza Portal and Doha Portal, which is a prograam funded by Shared Studio with the Mercy Corps and UN live, aims for cultural exchange between Palestinian and Western societies. In this portal, WANN writers were involved in a debate entitled, âWorld Secured: Is the Composition of the Negotiation Table the Key to a Successful Path to Peace?â They shared their viewpoints and reflections, grounded in their experience living under occupation.
Celebration for second WANN Reports cohort
WANN celebrated the graduation of writers who completed a 40-hour journalistic writing training course and who are writing news articles for WANN and other outlets. Our writers received extensive training with Ahmed Alsammak, a freelance journalist in Gaza, on essential skills and techniques in journalism.
Meeting with Italian journalistÂ
WANN had a meeting with Alessandra Buzzetti, the Middle East correspondent for Italyâs TV 2000. Our writers had the opportunity to share their experiences during, and essays about, the recent attack on the Gaza Strip in May.
Activities
Telling stories through photography
WANN has started a multiple-stage project aiming to teach storytelling through photography and to explore the power of visual narratives. This activity jointly involves Gazan and Norwegian youth. Two training sessions were led by accomplished photographer and artist Kent Klich, a Swedish photographer living in Copenhagen, Norway. Mr. Klich provided guidance on good photographic techniques. During the second session, he evaluated photos that WANNers had taken of their daily lives. The ultimate goal of this project is to produce photographs that will be displayed in an exhibition and a book.
Journalist safety discussion with the ICRC
WANN hosted its first session with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on âThe Safety and Protection of Journalists and Their Crews, International Humanitarian Law, and Media Coverage.â
Types of journalistic writing
WANN held a session with Dr. Ramzy Baroud, Palestinian-American journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. Writers engaged in conversations about several types of journalistic writing, such as features, commentary, and opinion pieces. In addition, Dr. Baroud read and critiqued samples written by WANNers, and he led an insightful discussion about their writing, offered guidance on how to write good feature and news articles, and answered questions from attendees.
Feature story writing
Maha Hussaini, award-winning journalist and strategy director of the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, presented a session on feature story writing. The objective was to help participants gain a deeper understanding of key concepts of feature writing, to contribute to their professional development and enable them to write for international news agencies in the future.
Antisemitism, what it is, and its history
WANNers had a session entitled âAntisemitism, What It Is, and Its History” by Dr. Alice Rothchild, an American obstetrician, filmmaker, and social justice activist. She is also mentor coordinator for WANN. Dr. Rothchild discussed antisemitism’s historical context, clarifying its complexities and sharing insights into its evolution. She also provided a better understanding of the differences between antisemitism and Zionism and dispelled misconceptions.
Training on the South African resistance movement
WANN held a session with Dr. Haidar Eid, associate professor of postcolonial and postmodern literature at Gazaâs Al-Aqsa University. In the discussion, Dr. Eid shared his thoughts on the experience of the South African resistance movement and the role of mass mobilization in making change.
International protections for journalists
WANNers had a valuable session with a representative from the International Committee of the Red Cross, entitled, âHow does international humanitarian law protect journalists in situations of armed conflict?â This session provided writers with insightful knowledge about the legal safeguards in place to ensure the safety and protection of journalists working in conflict zones.
Preparing to debate in the Palestinian narrative
WANN conducted two sessions with Talal Abu Rukab on “Debate in the Palestinian Narrative.” In the first session, he discussed the basic principles of debate as well as the use of persuasion and argument in productive debates. In the second session, writers examined various aspects of the Palestinian narrative that they need to know to debate effectively, including historical context, human rights, political dynamics, and Palestinian experiences.
