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Plestia Alaqad The Eyes Of Gaza: A Diary Of Resilience

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Code 9781035070275

A diary-memoir from a twenty-one-year-old Palestinian journalist, recalling her first-hand experience during the first forty-five days of the 2023-25 invasion of Gaza.

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Description

Binding: Paperback

Date Published: 22 Jan 2026

The instant New York Times bestseller
Shortlisted for the Westminster Book Awards 2025

'[A] joyful, tragic account of life in Gaza' - Miriam Margolyes
'Left me both devastated and inspired' - Macklemore

'Transforms pain into poetry' - Rupi Kaur

In early October 2023, Plestia Alaqad was a recent graduate with dreams of becoming a journalist. By the end of that November, she would be internationally known as the 'Eyes of Gaza', moving millions with her social media posts depicting daily life in Gaza amid Israel's deadly invasion and bombardment.

Written as a series of diary extracts, The Eyes of Gaza relates the horrors of Plestia's experiences, while showcasing the indomitable spirit of the men, women and children of her community. From the heart of the turmoil, surrounded by falling bombs and widespread devastation, she captures their emotions; their gentle acts of quiet, necessary heroism; and the moments of unexpected tenderness and vulnerability amid the chaos.

Through the raw honesty and vulnerability of a normal twenty-one-year-old woman navigating a human tragedy, The Eyes of Gaza is a potent reminder of the horrors of violence and a powerful testament to the human spirit.

About the Author

Plestia Alaqad is a Palestinian journalist and author who has emerged as a vital voice in the midst of the destruction in Gaza. At just twenty-one years old, she captivated audiences with her raw and poignant coverage of her surroundings. Through her unflinching dispatches shared on social media, Alaqad has offered the world an unfiltered glimpse into the harrowing realities of life under siege, her experiences resonating deeply with millions across the globe.

In November 2023, as the war escalated, Alaqad and her family were forced to leave Gaza. Since then, she has been awarded the Shireen Abu Akleh Memorial Scholarship for a Master's in media studies at the American University of Beirut, where she continues to advocate for justice. Her advocacy has transcended borders, drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine and calling for freedom and accountability. The Eyes of Gaza is her first book.

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More Like This

The raw truth of The Eyes of Gaza hurts. But what's the point of anything if we can't face the truth? Palestinians are just like us; they feel as we feel. Please read this joyful, tragic account of life in Gaza. And celebrate Plestia Alaqad's courage and skill and stop the killing -- Miriam Margolyes, BAFTA-award-winning actor and author of This Much is True
How do you get over a genocide? The question Plestia asks is rhetorical, yet it lingers long after the page is turned, heavy with grief and impossible to answer. Plestia is more than a journalist; she is a witness, a storyteller and an unrelenting seeker of truth. With a camera in one hand and a pen in the other, she has dedicated her life to ensuring the world does not look away. Through her lens, she captures not only the devastation of genocide in Gaza, but also the weight of a lifetime lived under Israeli occupation. Her writing is deeply personal, at times reading like a journal entry or a letter from a friend. She weaves hope and pain so seamlessly that it often hurts to read, each word a testament to both resilience and loss. Plestia's ink serves as the veins of Gaza, giving life to stories that might otherwise be erased. With striking imagery and intimate detail, her reporting is more than documentation, it is resistance. Her words left me both devastated and inspired - moved by the strength found in community, the unwavering spirit of her people and the urgent need for collective liberation -- Macklemore
The Eyes of Gaza transforms pain into poetry, offering readers an unfiltered glimpse into the depths of loss, hope and survival -- Rupi Kaur, poet and bestselling author of Milk and Honey
Plestia Alaqad became our eyes in Gaza and has forever taken a huge piece of our hearts. In this series of diary entries, she welcomes us to live through the genocide again but, this time, with greater intimacy. It reveals a tender and infallible optimism that siege and systematic war have failed to crush. The Eyes of Gaza gives us a glimpse of how the most noble of people not only survived a genocide but are more resolute than ever that their future is freedom and that the future is Palestine -- Noura Erakat, activist and author of Justice for Some
During the first months of the war, I was working, sleeping and eating in the Operating Room. Days would pass before I would step outside. Plestia became our messenger from the outside world. Hers is a unique story, a unique journey -- Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
An astounding first-hand account of surviving one of the deadliest and most destructive campaigns in recorded history . . . poignant * The Irish Times *
Powerful . . . an intimate and unflinching testimony and love letter to a homeland under fire * The National *
Written with humor, impossible optimism, faith, and - sometimes - despair, Plestia has given the world an intimate glimpse of life - family, friendship, mutual care, trauma, boredom, hunger, thirst, guilt, and more - in the midst of Israel's ongoing genocide against Palestinians -- Susan Abulhawa, bestselling author of Mornings in Jenin

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