Tributes poured in for Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer after friends confirmed his death in a strike on Gaza on Friday. Alareer, a prominent figure among the English-writing generation of writers in Gaza, had shown immense courage in the face of the Israeli army's assault on the region.

Mosab Abu Toha, a Gazan poet and colleague, expressed his grief on Facebook, saying, "My heart is broken, my friend and colleague Refaat Alareer was killed with his family."

The poet's determination and defiance were evident as he vowed to "throw (his) pen in the soldiers' faces" if his house was ever stormed. Alareer had refused to evacuate his home in northern Gaza despite the dangers posed by the conflict.

His close friend Mohamed Al Arair, a history teacher in Shejaiya, described Alareer's stance, stating, "The whole family had asked him to leave because it was so dangerous, but he always replied 'I'm only an academic, a civilian, at home. I'm not leaving'."

Alareer documented daily life in Gaza under Israeli bombardments on X, a writing platform, drawing attention to the plight of the Gazan people. He occasionally sparked controversy with his opinions on Israel and Hamas.

Just a few days before his death, Alareer lamented the dire situation, saying, "We are enveloped in thick layers of gunpowder and cement." He expressed concern for his loved ones still trapped in the dangerous region.

Alareer, a professor of English literature at the Islamic University of Gaza, was influential in promoting English writing among the younger generations of Palestinian authors. He co-founded the "We are not numbers" project, a platform that pairs Gaza writers with international mentors to share their stories in English.

The loss of Alareer has deeply saddened his fellow writers and supporters. Ahmed Alnaouq, another close friend, expressed his grief, calling the poet's assassination "tragic, painful, and outrageous."

Over the course of the war, more than 17,400 lives, mostly civilians, have been lost in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Amid rising tensions, allegations of rape and sexual violence have emerged, causing anger and leading to investigations. Alareer vigorously denied these allegations, claiming they were used as smokescreens to justify the "Gaza genocide."

Refaat Alareer's passing has been mourned by many across the literary community. The Literary Hub website paid tribute to him, and author/journalist Ramzy Baroud stated, "Rest in peace, Refaat Alareer. We will continue to be guided by your wisdom, today and for eternity."

In November, Alareer published a poignant poem on X titled "If I must die," which resonated with numerous readers. The final lines of the poem read, "If I must die, let it bring hope, let it be a tale."

The loss of Refaat Alareer leaves a void in the literary world and serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing turmoil faced by the people of Gaza. His words and defiance will continue to inspire generations to come.