Palestinians are mourning the death of prominent writer and literary scholar Refaat Alareer, who tragically lost his life in an air strike carried out in Gaza City on Wednesday. Alareer's father-in-law confirmed that he, along with his brother, sister, and four of her children, were among the victims of the attack.

Alareer was widely known for teaching English literature at Gaza's Islamic University. His untimely demise has deeply affected the literary community, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes. Gazan poet Mosab Abu Toha expressed his heartbreak on social media, writing, "My heart is broken, my friend and colleague Refaat Alareer was killed with his family."

Despite the dangerous circumstances, Alareer had refused to leave northern Gaza following the commencement of Israeli operations in the area. Just two days before his death, he posted a video on social media capturing the sound of numerous explosions in the vicinity.

In an interview with the BBC shortly after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, Alareer made controversial remarks that caused widespread offense. He deemed the attack "legitimate and moral" and compared it to the historic Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The comments received strong backlash, and the BBC, while acknowledging its coverage of different perspectives, stated they found Alareer's comments offensive and would not invite him for future interviews.

Alareer played a pivotal role in establishing the non-profit organization "We Are Not Numbers" in 2015. Through this initiative, Palestinian writers joined forces with young individuals from Gaza to share stories that shed light on the human aspect behind the numbers typically associated with Palestinians in the news. He was also recognized as the co-editor of "Gaza Unsilenced" and served as the editor of "Gaza Writes Back: Short Stories from Young Writers in Gaza, Palestine."

Former student Jehad Abusalim paid his respects on social media, describing Alareer as a mentor and friend who genuinely cared for his students beyond the classroom. For Abusalim, Alareer's English classes represented a means of breaking free from the prolonged siege in Gaza, as the language served as a tool to transcend Israel's barriers and the intellectual, academic, and cultural blockade on the region.

Muhammad Shehada, a writer from Gaza and communications chief at Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, reminisced about Alareer's vibrant personality and passions, highlighting his love for Chicago Pizza, cats, history, classical music, theater, poetry, and even Harry Potter.

Other notable figures also shared their condolences on social media. Palestinian-American author and activist Susan Abulhawa described Alareer as one of the kindest, most generous, committed, and wonderful human beings she had ever met. Palestinian-American author and journalist Ramzy Baroud wrote, "Rest in peace, Refaat Alareer. We will continue to be guided by your wisdom, now and forever."

In a poem Alareer posted on social media on November 1, he wrote, "If I must die, let it bring hope, let it be a tale." The heartfelt post has garnered tens of thousands of shares, resonating with many.

It is worth noting that the Islamic University at which Alareer taught was destroyed by Israeli forces on October 11. Israel justified the destruction, stating that the university served as an "important Hamas operational, political and military center in Gaza."

As the mourning continues for Refaat Alareer, the Gaza Strip experiences ongoing uncertainties and changes following Israel's military response to Hamas's attacks on October 7. The situation remains tense, and an estimated 100 Israelis are believed to still be held hostage in Gaza since the initial attacks in early October.