Refaat Alareer

Refaat Alareer, born on September twenty-third, nineteen seventy-nine, in Gaza City, was a prominent Palestinian writer, poet, professor, and activist. His life and work were profoundly shaped by the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip, which he often cited as a significant influence on his decisions and creative expression.

Alareer pursued his education with determination, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from the Islamic University of Gaza in two thousand one. He furthered his studies at University College London, where he obtained a Master’s degree in two thousand seven. His academic journey culminated in a PhD in English Literature from Universiti Putra Malaysia in two thousand seventeen, with a dissertation focused on the works of John Donne.

As an educator, Alareer taught literature and creative writing at the Islamic University of Gaza. He was also a co-founder of the organization We Are Not Numbers, which aimed to connect experienced authors with young writers in Gaza, emphasizing storytelling as a vital form of resistance against the ongoing occupation.

Tragically, on December sixth, two thousand twenty-three, Alareer was killed in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza, alongside his brother, sister, and four nephews. Reports indicated that he was deliberately targeted, following weeks of threats against him. His legacy continued to resonate, as his final collection, If I Must Die: Poetry and Prose, was posthumously published in December two thousand twenty-four and became a bestseller, named after his most renowned poem.