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In early October 2023, Palestinian Plestia Alaqad was a recent university graduate dreaming of a career as a journalist. But by the end of November, her homeland was unrecognizable—and she was broadcasting videos of violence and destruction to millions online, known across the world as "The Eyes of Gaza."
On the morning of October 7, 2023, 21-year-old Plestia Alaqad wakes to a flurry of messages and headlines: Gaza under bombardment. Civilians flee waves of Israeli strikes. In a few short days, she and her family will be at the epicenter of a violence that is all too familiar for Palestinians—but this time, she knows, things will never be the same.
A series of diary extracts from the weeks following October 7, The Eyes of Gaza is a gutting, on-the-ground record of the turmoil and destruction endured by the men, women, and children of Palestine. As Alaqad flees from neighborhood to neighborhood, from hospital to hospital, she documents all she sees—the destruction of beloved homes, the waves of bombs, and most of all, the boundless bravery and generosity of her people—all the while trying to memorize the faces of those around her "so somebody will have known them before the end," wondering if, one day, her own journal will be discovered amidst the rubble.
A document of the indomitable Palestinian spirit, told through the voice of one ordinary young woman, The Eyes of Gaza is a tribute to Alaqad's beloved Gaza, a paean to the courage and endurance of Palestine, and a manifesto of hope for its future.
"While [Alaqad] documents the expected horrors—murdered loved ones, destroyed homes, nightly terror—she wants readers to remember that there is more to Gaza and to being Palestinian than endless suffering. In this moving account, she describes the beauty of her hometown and the fierce joy of Palestinian children at play.'" —Booklist (starred review)
"An arresting personal history of loss and survival in besieged Gaza." —Kirkus Reviews
"The Eyes of Gaza transforms pain into poetry, offering readers an unfiltered glimpse into the depths of loss, hope and survival." ―Rupi Kaur, poet and New York Times bestselling author of Milk and Honey
"The raw truth of The Eyes of Gaza hurts. But what's the point of anything if we can't face the truth? Palestinians are just like us; they feel as we feel. Please read this joyful, tragic account of life in Gaza. And celebrate Plestia Alaqad's courage and skill and stop the killing." ―Miriam Margoyles, OBE, BAFTA-award winning actor and author of This Much Is True
This information about The Eyes of Gaza was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Plestia Alaqad is a Palestinian journalist and author who has emerged as a vital voice in the midst of the destruction in Gaza. At just twenty-one years old, she captivated audiences with her raw and poignant coverage of her surroundings. Through her unflinching dispatches shared on social media, Alaqad has offered the world an unfiltered glimpse into the harrowing realities of life under siege, her experiences resonating deeply with millions across the globe. In November 2023, as the war escalated, Alaqad and her family were forced to leave Gaza. Since then, she has been awarded the Shireen Abu Akleh Memorial Scholarship for a master's in media studies at the American University of Beirut, where she continues to advocate for justice. Her advocacy has transcended borders, drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine and calling for freedom and accountability. Alaqad's remarkable journalism has earned her multiple prestigious accolades, including being named one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2024 and winning the One Young World Journalist of the Year Award, the Lyra McKee Award for Bravery, and a Human Rights Defender Award.
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