A group photo at the Hymns of Peace spoken word event in Gaza in November 2018 [Photo courtesy of Mohammed Moussa

The Society has hosted countless workshops, readings, and events to benefit Gazan poets and expand the reach of their voices; this work has been profiled in Al Jazeera and New Lines Magazine, among others. The group has organized three slam poetry events for Gazan youth: “Gaza Youth Speak,” “Hymns of Peace,” and “Our Dreams Matter.” The Society has also published two anthologies, Love and Loss and, more recently, My Death is Not a Song for You to Sing. Both anthologies and additional publications from the Gaza Poets Society can be found in our online shop.

Connecting Gazan poets and their work with writers and readers outside Palestine is a foundational mission of the Society, and this mission has only increased in urgency since the group’s formation. In 2018, the founding members of Gaza Poets Society gathered on a beach to share poetry and enjoy each other’s company; less than ten years later, the Israeli occupation has rendered this simple act of communion impossible. Since October 2023, the Society has worked to gather, document, and share the writing of Palestinian poets, both living and martyred, whose lives have been upturned by the current iteration of Israeli aggression, displacement, and genocide. With the help of our readers, friends, and literary colleagues across the world, we hope to continue and expand this work in spite of its many challenges.

Poets gather on the beach in Gaza, sharing poems and singing songs [Photo courtesy of Mohammed Moussa]

A Letter from the Editor:

Dear Friends, Readers, and Supporters,

I write to you not just as the founder of the Gaza Poets Society, but as a witness to the profound and unyielding power of the word in a place where so much else has been shattered.

Since our establishment in 2018, the Gaza Poets Society has served a vital purpose: to build a bridge of ink between our besieged home and the rest of the world. For over eight years, our small, volunteer-driven team of writers and poets has worked tirelessly to ensure that the authentic voice, culture, and humanity of Gaza are heard on the global stage.

Our Literary Acts of Resistance

This platform is more than a publisher; it is a declaration of life. Every book, every reading, every translation is an act of resistance against erasure. Our literary output stands as a testament to the resilience of our artists:

My Death is Not a Song for You to Sing (2025)

Salted Wounds (2023)

Flamingo (2020)

Love and Loss (2019)

Beyond the page, we've actively cultivated connections. We launched Gaza Guy, the first English-speaking podcast from Gaza, hosted by myself, to offer unfiltered narratives of daily life. We've organized live performances and created visual content, ensuring our young writers and poets connect with international cultural spaces—a lifeline for artists trapped by circumstance.

"The poets of Gaza are not merely describing the siege; they are carving a window through it."

Commitment in the Aftermath

Now, in the aftermath of the devastating war, our mission has taken on an urgent new meaning. We are more committed than ever to safeguarding the voices of Gaza's young poets and writers. Their words are the historical record. They are the memory. They are the hope.

Our editorial work—including crucial editing, translation, and proofreading services—remains entirely voluntary, powered by the dedication of our local team. Any modest support we receive is directed solely toward essential operational costs, allowing us to continue this critical work.

To read the poetry published by this Society is to bear witness. It is to refuse silence. We ask you to continue to listen to, share, and support these voices, which remain unbroken despite everything.

With hope and resolve,

Mohammed Mousa

Founder, Gaza Poets Society