We Are Not Numbers

Meaningful and impactful … A vital [read] … Tell all your friends * British Vogue *A powerful collection * Service95 *Picking up this book may seem hard because of the subject matter; putting it down is even harder. The voices of Gaza’s young writers are so moving and varied and astonishing. You’ll carry We Are Not Numbers in your heart for a very long time – Kamila ShamsieWondrous, devastating and vibrant beyond measure. These essays, piercing and searching, striking and warm, grapple with the question of how to make a life. An achievement and a marvel, an absolute shooting star – Bryan WashingtonWith lovingly crafted words and stories, the authors in We Are Not Numbers open portals in Israel’s apartheid wall, inviting readers into the impossible realities of life under siege in Gaza. The collective commitment to doing whatever it takes to produce this extraordinary symphony of testimony is evident on every page. This book is a jailbreak - and a miracle – Naomi KleinA brilliant collection of voices that lays bare the struggles and suffering of ordinary young Palestinians. More importantly, it illuminates their humanity and dignity, and the hopes and dreams that persist even in the face of death and destruction – Monica AliImpossible to put down or forget - a testament to the unimaginable strength of the people of Gaza – Riz AhmedPowerful, humane and heroic … the voices of Palestinians soar. This is the most important collection of writing published today. It’s a book the world must know – Jenni FaganWe Are Not Numbers is not just a book—it’s my life, their life, and our shared story. I know some of these brave writers; I’ve walked the same streets, felt the same fear, and shared the same dreams under Gaza’s skies. These pages carry the truth of our struggle and the beauty of our humanity. This is Gaza as it truly is, written by those who live it every day – Motaz Azaiza, award-winning Palestinian photojournalistA rebellion against the singular story. An insightful, multifaceted glimpse into the besieged Gaza Strip, where millions of people continue to confront a genocide waged by an Israeli regime – Mohammed el-KurdThey are the hopes of a cruel world, the humanity of an inhumane era, the resolve in a time of evil. Their voices will bellow through the ages – Owen JonesA vital book. The emergence of these voices is politically and ethically urgent, of course, but it is also a profoundly important literary event – China MievilleA testament to the dignity, courage and beauty of Gaza and her people - these voices and stories could not be more urgent – Fatima BhuttoI felt not only deeply moved by this book but transformed. Its importance cannot be understated and I know I will press it upon everyone I meet – Daisy JohnsonAs a genocide unfolds right before us, this book will stand as a testimony to this shocking and inhuman moment in history – Neel Mukherjee[An] important and timely collection … The voices of Gaza’s youth have been palpably missing in the ongoing war. They have been reduced to grim statistics by a media overwhelmed by the brutality of the ongoing genocide … This book is the ultimate corrective … Through their eyes we witness the richness and warmth of their culture, and the undeniable human impact of the war … The stories on these pages bear testimony to the resilient spirits that are Gaza’s youth and ultimately give hope for its future … Gaza’s youth has spoken through this heart-rending and often beautiful collection. The least we can do is listen to them. * Middle East Eye *

Ahmed Alnaouq is a Palestinian journalist and human rights activist based in London. He is the co-founder and director of We Are Not Numbers and a journalist with Palestine Deep Dive. Ahmed holds a degree in English Literature from Al-Azhar university in Gaza, and an MA in International Journalism from Leeds University, where he was a Chevening Scholar.

Pam Bailey is a social-justice activist and journalist based in Washington DC. She lived and worked in the Gaza Strip following the 2008⁄9 Israeli assault, and co-founded We Are Not Numbers. Today, in addition to her ongoing dedication to the Palestinian cause, she dedicates herself to two nonprofits that advocate for people detained in American prisons – including one she co-founded in 2020, called More Than Our Crimes.