(NEW YORK)— PEN America mourns the death of renowned Palestinian scholar and writer Refaat Alareer.  Alareer was killed on December 7, reportedly by an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza.  His brother, sister, and her four children were reportedly killed in the same strike.

“Through his writing, Refaat Alareer sought to shine a light on life in Gaza. He wanted the world to know the stories of how ordinary Palestinians lived and loved, believing in the power of poetry to cross borders and boundaries. His death is a loss to his family, the community in Gaza, his students, and to those he touched with his work,”  said Liesl Gerntholtz, director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom To Write Center.

About PEN America

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.

Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], 201-247-5057