THE EYES OF GAZA A Diary of Resilience

It's impossible to overstate the power of hearing Palestinian writer Plestia Alaqad narrating her diaries of life under Israeli occupation. Delivering her audiobook in her melodic Arabic accent is a remarkable act of resistance in a war in which journalists are routinely targeted. Alaqad rose to prominence at the age of 21 for her reporting during the first six weeks of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, later called a "genocide" by the UN. As friends and neighbors are swallowed under the rubble, she fills each page with stories of Palestinian resistance and joy. Her steady voice, aged by trauma, dwells not on violence, but on the emotional landscape of Gaza. At its heart, Alaqad's story preserves Gaza's memory--it's a love letter to the city she calls home. K.L.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2025]