About the Author

Refaat Alareer is co-editor of Gaza Unsilenced (2015) and the editor of Gaza Writes Back (2014). A native of Gaza City, he received his M.A. in Comparative Literature from the University College of London (UK). Since 2007, he has taught world literature and creative writing at the Islamic University of Gaza. Laila El-Haddad is co-editor of Gaza Unsilenced (2015), co-author of the award-winning ethnographic cookbook The Gaza Kitchen: A Palestinian Culinary Journey (2013), and the author of Gaza Mom (2010). She is a talented writer, analyst, and social activist, and a policy advisor for Al-Shabaka, the Palestinian Policy Network.Born in Gaza, El-Haddad currently lives in Columbia, Maryland.