Harare Review of Books

288 pp. Published May 6, 2025 by OR Books. Non-fiction.

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Almoghayer reminds us that Gaza was not always the place of nightmares and unbearable scenes that it’s become in the news. It’s first and foremost a home and part of a nation; it’s families making their way, artists painting, farmers working the land, fishermen making a living, fashion designers dreaming up clothes, children flying kites, and people following soccer. It’s theatres and universities and coffee shops and Gaza’s special food dishes and parkour and more. It’s community, and family—the threads that tie a people together.

Almoghayer tells us about Hassan, who owns a medical laboratory that specialises in fertility care; he’s a pillar of the community, and has held many marriages together. Adli and Mansour are best friends who share a motorcycle that they can operate together (and one pair of shoes when they buy): They have one leg each, one right, and one left. I could be a purely heartbreaking story, but it’s quite the opposite in Almoghayer’s telling—instead, it’s a story of resilience. One man lost his home in a bombing apart from a door that was left standing—a door that became extremely valuable when a Banksy appeared on it overnight. Unfortunately, Rabei hasn’t benefitted directly from it—because, people. Even in such circumstances, there’s always someone there to exploit. And Almoghayer tells us about Professor Baraka, who was an upcoming star at NASA, but who moved back to Gaza after his young son was killed by an Israeli missile. Now he shares his passion for astronomy with fellow Gazans.

Kamal and Hatem are friends and neighbours; Kamal, a Christian, takes Hatem to the mosque for prayers five times a day during Ramadan because Hatem is blind. Hatem goes with him to church on Sundays. Ibrahim is Al Zaytoun’s Baba Noel (Father Christmas). There’s Maher, the nineteen-year-old quail hunter, and also Ahmed and Mohammed, the passionate surfers. These are some of the stories of Gaza.

So many stories. So many pleasures. In all of these ways, Gaza was just a place like everywhere else where there are people. Maybe one day it will be restored, and truly be free to be.

Thank you to OR Books and Edelweiss for early DRC access.

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