Palestinian writer and journalist Plestia Alaqad is releasing her first book, a chronicle on what it was like to live in Gaza immediately after the October 7 attacks and in the 45 days that followed.
Available to pre-order now before its publication next year, The Eyes of Gaza is a series of diary extracts.
Alaqad, 22, has received international recognition for her coverage as the Gaza-Israel war broke out last year. She used social media to report and document the impact it had on the lives of Palestinian civilians.
Her video diaries, emotional storytelling and first-hand reporting gained Alaqad millions of followers. But in November 2023, she fled with her family to Egypt and then Australia, where she now resides.
Pan Macmillan won an auction against five other publishers for the rights to publish the book. “The Eyes of Gaza is hands-down the most important book I’ve ever worked on,” editor Ause Abdelhaq told book trade publication The Bookseller.
“The continuing situation in Palestine is the greatest humanitarian tragedy of our times, but Plestia’s insights offer a glimpse into the kaleidoscope of stories that we don’t hear on the news: the gentle acts of quiet; necessary heroism; the everyday lives that were upended by terror; and the moments of unexpected tenderness and vulnerability that have emerged amid the chaos.”
While the stories in The Eyes of Gaza depict the horrors of what ordinary Palestinians have been going through, they also aim to be a beacon of hope, advocating for a better future for Gaza and the wider region.
Alaqad announced news of her book on Instagram with a sombre post as Israeli air strikes continue across southern Lebanon.
“Life is funny. Today, the Lebanese sky above me is in flames. Today is also the announcement day of my book Eyes of Gaza, which I started writing way back on October 7 2023 – or as I knew it, week 1,” she wrote to her 4.5 million followers.
“I thought I was documenting the greatest horrors I would ever feel. I felt that by the time I published this journal, maybe, just maybe, Gaza would finally be safe and the world would learn from what happened to us. That is not my feeling now.
“I do not feel that those weeks are behind us, in this close exile to the ruins of my homeland. I don’t feel that I am in week 50 either. I feel that I am in week 1.”
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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