A building tells a story and so does its absence.
Every building described in this piece has been destroyed by bombing. By April 2024, more than 50% of all structures in the Gaza Strip had been destroyed, including 360,000 homes, ancient archeological sites, more than 1000 mosques, the third-oldest church in the world, schools, hospitals, libraries, community centres, art galleries, shops, restaurants, and universities. This is alongside tremendous loss of life, with 5% of the population killed or injured, and two million people displaced.
Destroying a building also destroys its stories. The destruction of a city is the destruction of creativity, ideas, heritage, history, meaning and belonging. In a landscape already so harrowed by violence and occupation, the destruction of cultural life “cannot be depicted as collateral damage”. We have to keep amplifying the stories. I am indebted to the Palestinians who told their stories in the articles below that helped to create this piece of writing. From the river to the sea.
Click to read 'Of Belonging and Loss' in high resolution.
