As the world watches the crisis unfold in Palestine, prominent authors are uniting their voices to advocate for justice, proving that literature can serve as a powerful catalyst for change.
In a world where staying silent can mean complicity, speaking out against genocidal wars is crucial. The ongoing crisis in Palestine, marked by relentless violence and staggering loss of life, demands our attention and action. Some of our most influential voices in literature are stepping forward to raise their voices against these atrocities, and their words are hitting home. Their courage and solidarity remind us that we can’t just look away. Let’s dive into the powerful actions and statements of four literary icons, who are standing up for Palestine. Their voices are a call to wake up, urging us all to confront the harsh realities of war and genocide with empathy, resolve, and a commitment to justice.
1. Sally Rooney: A Voice of Compassion
International bestselling author Sally Rooney kicked off an event in London about her new book, Intermezzo, with an impassioned speech about the ongoing crisis in Palestine. Opening the event at the Southbank Centre on Wednesday, 26 September, Rooney addressed the audience with poignant words.
“Before we begin, I want to acknowledge the broader context in which we’re gathered here this evening,” she started, before reading two pages from her book. “For almost a year, the people of Palestine have faced a military campaign characterized by mass murder and structural devastation. All of this with the support of the European Union and the United Kingdom.”
Sally Rooney
Rooney highlighted the cultural losses, stating, “Countless heritage sites, museums, libraries, schools, and mosques, as well as art venues and cultural centres, much like this one, have been irretrievably destroyed.” She went on to mention the devastating death toll, with over 40,000 people killed since 7 October, including nearly 17,000 children.
“As we are lucky enough to be here tonight in London and beautiful surroundings for what I hope will be an evening of celebration and community, I want to make clear that we are also here in solidarity with the people of Palestine. I want to urge you all just as I also urge myself not to turn away, not to give in to despair or fatigue, to keep protesting, to keep speaking out to keep lending an end to this horrifying war. It is the least we can do.”
Rooney urged the audience to remain active in their support
“It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that we are witnessing unfolding genocide,” Rooney asserted. She condemned the expansion of Israel’s military action into Lebanon and emphasized, “The violent death of any civilian in Israel, in Lebanon, in Palestine, or anywhere is a terrible tragedy and an outrage and the roots of this particular tragedy are in the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and the apartheid system under which Palestinians are forced to live.”
2. Jhumpa Lahiri: A Stand for Integrity
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri recently made headlines by declining the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award, offered by the Noguchi Museum in Queens, New York. The museum had fired three employees for wearing keffiyehs in solidarity with Palestinians, citing a new policy banning political messages. Born in London to Indian immigrant parents, Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 for her debut story collection, Interpreter of Maladies. She has published several books in both English and Italian and currently directs the creative writing program at Barnard College.
The controversy over the dress code policy comes amid broader debates on how cultural institutions should express solidarity with Israelis or Palestinians. Lahiri, who signed a letter to university presidents in May expressing solidarity with campus protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, described them as “unspeakable destruction.” Lahiri is among thousands of scholars who have expressed solidarity with Palestinians and criticized the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. This solidarity has often come at a cost; in the U.S., individuals have faced job losses due to their stance on the genocidal war. Find out more: Jhumpa Lahiri Declines Noguchi Award In Protest Of Keffiyeh Ban Controversy
3. Jacinta Kerketta: A Poetic Protest
Indian poet and author Jacinta Kerketta refused the 2024 Room to Read Young Author Award in solidarity with Palestinians. The award, jointly given by USAID and Room to Read India Trust, was for her children’s poetry collection, Jirhul. “As a poet, I want to show my solidarity with the children, women, and victims of Palestine,” Kerketta told The Independent. She criticized Room to Read India Trust’s association with Boeing, a key supplier of weapons to the Israeli Defence Forces.
“When children were being killed in Palestine, Room to Read India Trust in India was collaborating with Boeing for better education of children. And Boeing’s relationship with Israel is linked to the arms business. How can the arms business and care for children continue simultaneously when the world of children is being destroyed by the same weapons? Because of these concerns, I have declined to accept this USAID-supported award.”
Kerketta expressed concern about the impact of arms on children’s lives.
She highlighted the death toll in Gaza, with more than 16,000 children killed since Israel launched its assault. “I see many people in India remain silent about the genocide in Palestine. Just as there is hatred for minorities within the country, similarly there is no sympathy for the people of Palestine,” Kerketta said.
4. Fatima Bhutto: A Call for Compassion
Author Fatima Bhutto took to social media to speak about the rights of Palestinian people. In August 2024, she addressed the circulation of a graphic video showing a Palestinian man being raped by an IDF soldier. Visibly distressed, Bhutto shared her thoughts in an Instagram video, urging people not to share the video.
“I think we absolutely should not share the video. We can make sure that the news stays in circulation. We can talk about the horror and the injustice in it. We can do all that without showing the video,”
Fatima Bhutto emphasized the importance of respecting the victim and his family.
Bhutto highlighted the severe repercussions of sharing graphic content. “We can’t post a video like that without considering how it will affect the man’s family, his loved ones, his friends, and his colleagues, who are coping with a trauma far beyond anything we can ever imagine.” Referencing another heartbreaking video, Bhutto noted, “He’s grieving, he’s devastated by pain, and it’s very difficult to watch somebody go through that, even a stranger.” She urged her audience to think compassionately and do the right thing.
As these literary icons use their influential platforms to stand in solidarity with Palestine, they remind us of the power of words and actions in the face of injustice. Their unwavering commitment to speaking out against genocidal war inspires us all to remain vigilant, compassionate, and active in the pursuit of peace and human rights. In a world rife with conflict, their voices serve as a beacon of hope, urging us to confront oppression with courage and to never turn away from the fight for justice.
Sources: Dawn, Independent, BBC
