When they set out to collect testimonies of people living through the war, the editors of Daybreak in Gaza knew they did not have the luxury of leisurely deliberation. The book was going to be unlike any other they had worked on and it had to be released as quickly as possible.
Palestinians in Gaza were being killed every day, as they still are, by Israeli bombardment. Daybreak in Gaza was conceived as a way of carrying their voices from the ground outward, through testimony and showing the lives at stake.
The urgency meant the project had to move with the same pace as the violence it wanted to confront.
“We were fast, because we had to write as fast as Israel has been killing people, literally,” says Mahmoud Muna, a bookseller from Jerusalem and one of the editors.
And so, from March to May 2024, editors in London, Paris, Amman, Cairo, Jerusalem and Gaza gathered, transcribed and translated testimonies they had begun collecting in October 2023, working against faltering internet and phone connections, as well as the chilling knowledge that their contributors may not survive to see their words in print.
“We wanted to do something. We wanted to feel like we were doing something productive,” Muna says. “We believe in the power of literature. We believe in books. We're still under the delusion that this is, in some way, would help the killing to stop and for the bloodshed to stop.”
There was another impetus for the book: to elevate the Palestinian experience in Gaza from the flatness of statistical reporting. By highlighting individual voices, the editors sought to challenge the dehumanising narratives that continue to fuel the war.
“People are being dehumanised by the media,” Muna says. “Our belief is that if we shed some light, we humanise people – and I feel awful for saying that because people are human and they don’t need us to humanise them – but if we counter this dehumanising then we are making the case more and more for this to stop.”
Saqi Books understood the gravity of the situation and expedited the publishing process to bring Daybreak in Gaza to shelves within weeks – a time frame that is practically unheard of in the publishing world.
Sadly, by the time the book was released in October 2024, some of its contributors had been killed or have been unheard from since. Given the state of communications in Gaza, it remains difficult to confirm in some cases whether the authors have died or are simply unreachable.
“People were lost while we were interviewing them,” Muna says. “By the time the book came out, not everyone in the book was alive.”
Many were also killed in the months before the project began. Among them was Hiba Abu Nada, known for her award-winning novel Oxygen is not for the dead, who was killed in an air strike in October 2023, and Noor Aldeen Hajjaj, who died when Israeli planes bombarded dozens of residential buildings in Al-Shuja'iyya in December 2023. That same month, Refaat Alareer was also killed in an Israeli air strike along with his sister, brother, and four of his nephews and nieces.
These tragedies underscore the book's urgency. But even within its pages, this sense of writing against time is plain from the opening story.
“Hello, Ahmed from Gaza here,” Breaking News by Ahmed Mortaja begins. It is a deceptively simple introduction, but the sentence lays the groundwork for what Daybreak in Gaza stands for. The line addresses the reader directly, a confrontation, may-day and introduction all at once.
“And he’s introducing himself to an English speaking readership,” says co-editor Matthew Teller, author of Nine Quarters of Jerusalem. “It is very personal, very direct and face-to-face. I'm saying hello to you, one-to-one from page one.”
After introducing himself, Mortaja offers a visceral description of daily life in Gaza, as well as his hopes, dreams and terrors. “I hate answers, and I love questions,” he writes, before sharing the fact he is “afraid that I will die and become a number, and that everything will be gone before I complete what I have to write”.
Breaking News is a poignant and powerful entry point into a collection that insists on the individuality of Gazans. The writing is varied and from a multitude of voices. There are teachers, artists, shopkeepers and farmers writing in prose, poetry and fragments of diaries.
Noor Swirki, a mother of two, writes about moving Gaza to Khan Yunis, and then from Khan Yunis to Rafah. “Being a displaced woman is a tragedy,” she reflects. “You don’t have your own privacy. You don’t have your own health routine.”
Mohammed Aghaalkurdi, a doctor for Medical Aid for Palestinians, writes about the children of Gaza flying colourful kites, despite the famine and danger.
“The message the children send can be very powerful, particularly when they choose the colours of the Palestinian flag – and flying a kite is in itself an act of resistance, breaking the air siege and reclaiming the Palestinian skies, succeeding where politicians and militants have failed.”
There are dozens of such testimonies and each of them illuminates the everyday resilience of Palestinians in Gaza. The accounts flicker between grief, defiance and humour. Together, they depict a Gaza that is bustling with classrooms, cafes, bookshops and families.
“It's about showing to the world the love of life, how much these people love life, and how determined are they to continue to be,” says the book’s co-editor Juliette Touma, who is director of communications for UNRWA.
“Gaza has been forcefully isolated for nearly two decades now. But from this womb of isolation comes out life and that is what Gaza is about. That’s what the world needs to know.”
Touma also notes that one of the many tragedies Gazans are now facing is their interrupted education. “It is their pride and joy,” she says.
One testimony that captures this is My Heart is Broken by Saba Timraz. The 21-year-old had been studying computer engineering at Gaza’s Islamic University when Israel began attacking the enclave in response to the Hamas-led offensive on Israel on October 7, 2023. The university was closed and partially destroyed. Timraz eventually fled to Egypt to escape the air strikes.
“She wrote this original essay for us,” Teller says. “She was trapped with her sister inside Gaza for 184 days at the beginning of the bombardment. She speaks with real fire and fury. It’s an extraordinary piece of writing. But she also speaks of education and what the displacement and what all the all the trauma has done to them and their education process.”
Interestingly, Daybreak in Gaza does not merely focus on testimonies from the current war. It shows the cyclical nature of Israel’s onslaught of Gaza. Journalist Mohammed Omer’s 2003 diaries, for instance, describes in unsettling detail how five members of a family were shot, one after the other, as they rushed to tend to the wounded.
The book also draws on writing by several renowned figures, including Mahmoud Darwish, Susan Abulhawa and Ghassan Kanafani. Alongside text, it features illustrations by Maisara Baroud, photographs from UNRWA’s archives documenting decades of education in Gaza, as well as portraits by Armenian photographers who rooted themselves in Gaza and chronicled its people and upheavals through the 20th century.
The images are bolstered by essays that excavate different pockets of Gaza’s history – from its early beginnings five thousand years ago when Egyptian travellers arrived under Narmer, the so-called Catfish King, to the region’s long traditions of weaving and embroidery.
“This is not a eulogy for the dead,” Teller says. “Specifically, it’s Daybreak in Gaza, the aspect of hope that almost everybody we spoke to emphasised was central. People refused to be seen as numbers, and they refused to be accepted as statistics. They were asserting their right to live.”
Ultimately, Daybreak in Gaza may not directly stop Israel’s war on Gaza but it ensures that the names, stories and lives of Palestinians survive the bloodshed. It may provoke enough empathy and understanding to bolster ceasefire efforts. For readers, the book is a way of understanding the depth of the Palestinian struggle, of refusing to understand the impact of the conflict through statistics.
Daybreak in Gaza will also directly help those in need as profits from the book are being donated to the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Muna also encourages readers to seek out the authors behind the testimonies and connecting with them, in hopes that they are still alive. “I think this book is like the yellow pages, an index where you can find people you can relate to,” he says.
“Some people will relate to the young women. Some will relate to the theatre guy. Some will relate to the lawyer or the felafel shopkeeper. In that way, it creates these connections between people outside the world and Gaza.”
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
World ranking (at month’s end)
Jan - 257
Feb - 198
Mar - 159
Apr - 161
May - 159
Jun – 162
Currently: 88
Year-end rank since turning pro
2016 - 279
2015 - 185
2014 - 143
2013 - 63
2012 - 384
2011 - 883
Januzaj's club record
Manchester United 50 appearances, 5 goals
Borussia Dortmund (loan) 6 appearances, 0 goals
Sunderland (loan) 25 appearances, 0 goals
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Australia World Cup squad
Aaron Finch (capt), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa
The five pillars of Islam
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20Shipsy%3Cbr%3EYear%20of%20inception%3A%202015%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Soham%20Chokshi%2C%20Dhruv%20Agrawal%2C%20Harsh%20Kumar%20and%20Himanshu%20Gupta%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20India%2C%20UAE%20and%20Indonesia%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20logistics%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%20more%20than%20350%20employees%3Cbr%3EFunding%20received%20so%20far%3A%20%2431%20million%20in%20series%20A%20and%20B%20rounds%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Info%20Edge%2C%20Sequoia%20Capital%E2%80%99s%20Surge%2C%20A91%20Partners%20and%20Z3%20Partners%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Results
Stage three:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-43
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
4. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
5. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
6. Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) UAE-Team Emirates, at 24s
General Classification:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-13-02
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) Alpecin Fenix, at 12s
4. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
5. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
6. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
Sweet%20Tooth
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJim%20Mickle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristian%20Convery%2C%20Nonso%20Anozie%2C%20Adeel%20Akhtar%2C%20Stefania%20LaVie%20Owen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Read more about the coronavirus
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Marital status: Single
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
More on Quran memorisation:
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
