Writers Against War on Gaza: thousands support letter

Over 3,000 prominent figures from the world of culture, including writers, editors, and Hollywood celebrities, have joined forces to pen a letter expressing their solidarity with the Palestinian people amidst the ongoing conflict. Thousands have perished since the onset of the war on October 7th.

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High-profile names such as Susan Sarandon, Gael García Bernal, Jia Tolentino, Ocean Vuong, Valeria Luiselli, and Cathy Park Hong have added their signatures to the letter, making a powerful statement. In total, the letter boasts at least 3,359 signatories at the time of writing.

Who are Writers Against the War on Gaza?

The initiative comes under the banner of “Writers Against the War on Gaza” (WAWOG). Formed as an impromptu coalition, WAWOG’s mission is to advocate for the liberation of the Palestinian people. The coalition’s approach is to foster education and infrastructure for cultural organisation responding to the current conflict. WAWOG’s blueprint takes inspiration from “American Writers Against the Vietnam War,” established back in 1965.

Leading the interim organising committee for WAWOG are figures like Hannah Black, Ari Brostoff from “Jewish Currents,” Kyle Dacuyan of the Poetry Project, and others from diverse publications and institutions, including “Parapraxis,” “Jacobin,” and the University of Chicago.

On the website, it states: “September 11th attacks, Islamophobic political fervor and the widespread circulation of unsubstantiated claims has galvanized a US-led coalition of military support for a brutal campaign of violence.”

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WAWOG’s letter raises pertinent questions about how to counteract what they term as Israel’s “eliminationist assault” on the Palestinian people. The writers recognise that while their words alone cannot halt the devastation, they must challenge and rectify the distortions and misrepresentations in the media. The coalition strongly condemns those in their field who they believe perpetuate apartheid and genocide narratives.

Adding their voices to a chorus of intellectuals, scholars, and artists globally, WAWOG draws strength from the Palestinian tenet of sumud, symbolising endurance and resistance. Since 2004, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has been urging entities to support a boycott of Israeli state-linked institutions and those perceived to be in alignment with its apartheid stance. WAWOG’s letter echoes this call, urging peers across the cultural spectrum to back this boycott.

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Recent reports from the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza highlight the devastating human cost of the conflict, stating that 6,747 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israel’s consistent bombardment in response to the Hamas-led raid on October 7th, which resulted in over 1,400 casualties in Israel and hostages taken.

Sign the Writers Against the War on Gaza letter here.