Refaat Alareer was a poet, writer, a gentle man known for his “infectious love of storytelling,” warmth and wit. He’s celebrated in particular for mobilizing many pens advocating for Palestinian human rights and freedom against the sword of oppression. A professor of English Literature Refaat devoted his life’s work to his students to whom he sought to empower. He successfully led efforts to have their voices and experiences in Gaza heard in English, the vernacular of those most complicit with Israel which since 1967 has illegally occupied the territory and is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Refaat edited books like “Gaza Writes Back” and “Gaza Unsilenced” and contributed to the anthology “Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire.” He was murdered by the Israeli Defense Force on Dec. 7. This is his final poem written shortly before he was assassinated:
“If I Must Die” If I Must Die, you must live to tell my story, to sell my thing sto buy a piece of cloth and some strings (make it white with a long tail). So that a child, somewhere in Gaza, While looking heaven in the eye awaiting his dad who left in a blaze-and bid no one farewell not even his flesh, not even to himself-sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above and thinks for a moment an angel is there bringing back love. If I must Die, let it bring hope, let it be a tale”
John Stuart Hancock
Concord