![Refaat Alareer sought to tell Western audiences of the horrors in Gaza, but could also be controversial [Alareer's Twitter account]](https://archive.mmnews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Refaat-Alareer.jpg)
Israeli air strikes on Gaza have killed renowned Palestinian writer, poet, and professor Refaat Alareer and six members of his family. In his writing, Alareer captured the stories of a resilient community and advocated for the rights of Palestinians.
Alareer was a professor of English literature and creative writing at the Islamic University of Gaza, a renowned poet, writer, translator, as well as an activist.
His Twitter account ‘Refaat in Gaza’ has nearly 95,000 followers has become an important and humorous source of information for Gaza.
Today they killed our dear friend Refaat. The kindest, gentlest, most gracious teacher, editor, writer, mentor, friend you could ever meet. He was like a father to the writing community in G. Live by the pen, die by the pen. He did both. Murdered for his words. We are heartbroken pic.twitter.com/87yA14Tfpc
— Comma Press #CeasefireNow (@commapress) December 8, 2023
Alrareer was killed alongside his sister and four children, the @Gaza_shaheed (martyr) account said on X.
He reportedly stayed at his sister’s apartment after being threatened by Israeli intelligence that they knew his whereabouts and would strike the school he was seeking refuge at.
His killing was confirmed by the Al-Aqsa channel who said in a Telegram post: “Dr. Refaat Al-Areer [has been martyred], one of the prominent teaching staff in English literature at the Islamic University.”
Described as a “fearless man”, the Palestinian academic used social media to chronicle life under Israeli bombing in Gaza regularly. He also posted literary and poetry works.
