Heba Abu Nada, the Immortal Poet: Capturing Gaza's Resistance Against the Israeli War

Dec 1, 2024 - 14:38

I seek refuge in You,
In silence wrapped in prayers,
In every standing minaret and neighborhood,
To find a fleeting solace,
A shield against the consuming flames.

These verses were part of Heba Abu Nada's last extended poem.

Today, Gaza, a narrow strip ravaged by destruction, is defined not by its limited geography but by the indomitable spirit of its inhabitants.

Each Gazan is, indeed, a precious gem, a vital asset, resilient in the face of Israeli war and oppression.

Heba's poetic talent, likely forged in Israeli incarceration, confronts the cruel realities of occupation, yet her spirit—like Gaza itself—remains unbroken.

Heba’s own story mirrors the tragedy of Palestine: born into a family displaced to Gaza during the 1948 Nakba, she became a witness to its ongoing anguish.

Owing to her academic background in biochemistry, she dedicated herself to working at the Rosol Center for Pediatric Treatment, engaging closely with children—a role that harmonized with her refined poetic nature.

Heba endured several years of imprisonment in Israeli prisons on completely baseless charges.

In 2022, she penned her debut novel, "No Oxygen for the Dead," which reached its fourth printing and garnered awards at numerous literary festivals.

Her legacy also includes several poetry collections in which she joined other poets to address the relentless struggles of besieged Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

In October 2024, amidst the devastating Israeli bombardments and air strikes, Heba envisioned a new Gaza—a Gaza in the paradise, unshackled and free from blockade.

Ultimately, it was during one of these bombings that yet another of Gaza's precious souls ascended into paradise.