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Mahmoud Al-Shaer’s Reflections on Survival and Memory in Gaza
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: A Writer’s Testimony from the Frontlines
Palestinian writer and poet Mahmoud Al-Shaer recently discussed his new work, *I Am Still Alive: Dispatches from Gaza*, in an interview hosted by France 24. He describes how the ongoing war has reshaped personal memory, childhood experience, and the very sense of existence for Gaza’s residents. Al-Shaer frames writing itself as an act of resistance, aiming to prevent the erasure of individual and collective identities amid relentless destruction.
Background & Context: War’s Hidden Psychological Toll
The conflict in Gaza has forced countless families into displacement, with many living in makeshift tents and temporary shelters. While the physical devastation is widely reported, Al-Shaer emphasizes that the emotional and cultural damage—loss of memory, disruption of childhood, and the reduction of people to “numbers” in the war narrative—remains less visible. His account adds a personal dimension to the broader humanitarian crisis, highlighting how survival extends beyond securing food and shelter to preserving the stories that define a community.
Key Figure: Mahmoud Al-Shaer
Mahmoud Al-Shaer — Palestinian writer, poet, and author of *I Am Still Alive: Dispatches from Gaza* — uses his literary platform to document the lived reality of Gaza’s inhabitants. His work intertwines personal memoir with broader commentary on how war threatens the continuity of cultural memory.
Why It Matters: Identity, Memory, and Resistance
Al-Shaer argues that documenting everyday experiences is crucial for maintaining a sense of self and collective history. By recording his family’s displacement, his daughter’s perception of a world reduced to tents, and his own evacuation, he seeks to counteract the dehumanizing effect of being reduced to statistics. This narrative underscores the role of art and literature in conflict zones as tools for psychological resilience and for safeguarding the intangible heritage that war seeks to obliterate.
Impact: Preserving Humanity Amid Conflict
The writer’s testimony illustrates that the struggle for survival in Gaza is as much about protecting identity and memory as it is about physical safety. His perspective invites a broader understanding of the war’s consequences, urging observers to consider the long-term cultural and emotional ramifications for a population whose stories risk being lost amid ongoing violence.