Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Susan Abulhawa joins Ahmed Alnaouq for a conversation about Gaza, literature, censorship and the power of storytelling.
The internationally bestselling Palestinian-American novelist and author of Mornings in Jenin discusses her experience travelling to Gaza in 2024, bringing supplies and medicine, and mentoring young Palestinian writers whose lives had been shattered under the weight of a genocide.
She explains why she believes Palestinians in Gaza must be at the forefront of telling their own stories, and why diaries, fiction, journalism and literature can become part of the historical record.
The conversation also examines the intense pressure placed on Palestinians to police their language, the expectation that Palestinians should remain “perfect victims,” and the consequences writers can face when they refuse to moderate their words.
Abulhawa speaks about returning from Gaza and realising that she had been censoring herself, the pressure she has faced in the publishing world, and why she believes that losing books, contracts or professional opportunities cannot outweigh the responsibility to speak out with force as Israel’s genocide against her people continues to unfold.
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The views and opinions expressed by guests on Palestine Deep Dive are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or editorial position of Palestine Deep Dive.
Palestine Deep Dive is committed to fostering informed, open and respectful dialogue for a broad range of perspectives on Palestine-related issues, developments and conversations of significant public interest. Publishing these discussions does not imply agreement with, endorsement of, or verification of every claim made by participants. Viewers are encouraged to engage critically and consult a range of sources.
Susan Abulhawa joins Ahmed Alnaouq for a conversation about Gaza, literature, censorship and the power of storytelling.
The internationally bestselling Palestinian-American novelist and author of Mornings in Jenin discusses her experience travelling to Gaza in 2024, bringing supplies and medicine, and mentoring young Palestinian writers whose lives had been shattered under the weight of a genocide.
She explains why she believes Palestinians in Gaza must be at the forefront of telling their own stories, and why diaries, fiction, journalism and literature can become part of the historical record.
The conversation also examines the intense pressure placed on Palestinians to police their language, the expectation that Palestinians should remain “perfect victims,” and the consequences writers can face when they refuse to moderate their words.
Abulhawa speaks about returning from Gaza and realising that she had been censoring herself, the pressure she has faced in the publishing world, and why she believes that losing books, contracts or professional opportunities cannot outweigh the responsibility to speak out with force as Israel’s genocide against her people continues to unfold.
👉 Support us by becoming a paid subscriber from as little as £1 a month. Your support helps us build independent Palestinian-led media in a world which has never needed it more urgently:
donorbox.org/support-palestine-deepdive
👉 Follow us:
https://x.com/PDeepDive
instagram.com/palestinedeepdive
facebook.com/palestinedeepdive
*DISCLAIMER:*
The views and opinions expressed by guests on Palestine Deep Dive are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or editorial position of Palestine Deep Dive.
Palestine Deep Dive is committed to fostering informed, open and respectful dialogue for a broad range of perspectives on Palestine-related issues, developments and conversations of significant public interest. Publishing these discussions does not imply agreement with, endorsement of, or verification of every claim made by participants. Viewers are encouraged to engage critically and consult a range of sources.
