we are not numbers
emerging writers from Palestine tell their stories and advocate for their human rights
After a two-year interruption, the organization plans to resume on-site trainings in the space.
The cleanup crew—Sadeq Nawaf Abdul Hafez, Hassan Abo Qamar, Ahmad Abushawish, and Mohammed Al Ta’ban—displaying signs, papers, and books they reclaimed. Photo: Yaser Al Hour
Four writers with We Are Not Numbers and a companion returned to the organization’s office in Gaza City on October 16 to reclaim and clean the space. The Israeli occupation forces had invaded the offices, damaging furniture and equipment, but they had not succeeded in demolishing the entire building.
The WANN offices are housed at the Gaza location of Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, in a multi-story tower.
All four of the WANNers first contributed stories to the website after October 7, 2023, so none had yet participated in the trainings that were offered to cohorts of young writers at the Gaza office prior to that date; they had never been inside before.
Hassan Abo Qamar eagerly responded to a call for cleanup volunteers. “I loved the idea,” he said. “It was a chance to see the place where thousands of Gazan voices first began.
“When I walked in and saw everything covered in dust, I felt a kind of sadness. But as I cleaned, I found books and photos of WANN’s founders and writers when they were young.
“With every hour of cleaning, it felt like we were bringing life back to the space, and I got even more excited thinking about sharing photos of the office with my WANN friends and planning our first gathering there after the genocide.”
Ahmad Mohmmad Abushawish said it was heartbreaking to step into the building and see it in chaos, especially the graffiti of soldiers’ signatures covering the walls. But, he added, “despite finding everything turned upside down, the heart of We Are Not Numbers was still there: the banners, the papers, the books, the echoes of stories.”
Mohammed Weam Al Ta’ban, Sadeq Nawaf Abdul Hafez, and Yaser Al Hour also participated in the reclamation of WANN’s office.
“Seeing photos and videos of our office again filled my heart with hope and joy,” said Ahmed Alnaouq in a post on X that included before and after videos of the refurbishment action. WANN’s cofounder lives in diaspora in the United Kingdom.
“From this very place, we once trained our young writers, tens of them! Now, we’re back, stronger and more determined than ever to empower a new generation of Gazan storytellers. Stay tuned for a new chapter of resilience and inspiration.”
