Like many British people, after 7 October 2023, I was first shocked and then moved by the plight of the people of Gaza. I recognise that there are violent people on all sides of this conflict, but then I count the casualties. Probably less than a 1,000 Israeli deaths, probably more than 70,000 Gazan deaths. A ratio of approximately 1:70. In a situation like this, I believe that those who hold power should be held responsible. The Israeli government holds a lot of power (including surveillance power, drone power, military power, propaganda power), the ruling groups in Gaza have very little power. I don’t welcome any deaths of anyone: this little scrap of land has seen far too many violent deaths. The way to end this conflict is through the de-militarization of the whole region and the recognition of Palestinian rights. Enough blood has been spilt.
Trying to understand the horrific experience of the Gazan people, I read poetry. And, like a well-trained academic, I questioned why I was reading this poetry, and why poets were writing it. I spent a few months thinking about elegies. Eventually, these questions led to an essay: ‘Hearing from Gaza, Speaking to Gaza, Weeping for Gaza’. It’s been e-published by the website ‘Culture Matters’ as a free PDF, available here: https://www.culturematters.org.uk/hearing-from-gaza-speaking-to-gaza-weeping-for-gaza-review-of-poetry-about-palestine/
