WE ARE NOT NUMBERS | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

This is the first book to give a platform to the youth in Gaza, the 'invisible' ones you are never allowed to hear from, telling their true stories of war, loss, fears and–yes–joy during a decade of occupation, 2015-2024.

A teenage girl stares at her roof, hoping it won't collapse over her head. A young student searches the Internet for photos of libraries around the world, hoping he'll be able to visit them one day. Another walks around the city, taking notes of all the buildings she dreams of repairing.

These are the stories of young people from Gaza, born under Israeli occupation and blockade. They are people who have endured unspeakable struggles and losses, who keep fighting to be recognized not as numbers, but as human beings with hopes, dreams, and lives worth living.

We Are Not Numbers was founded in 2014 to give voice to the youth of Gaza. In this collection--vital, urgent and full of heart, spanning over ten years to the present moment--we gain an unparalleled insight into the past, as well as the current and next generation of Palestinian leaders, artists, scientists and scholars and imagine where we might go from here.

Come hear notables from around DC and the nation read excerpts from the book and share their own stories of engagement with Gaza and Palestine. Included among the speakers will be co-editor Pam Bailey, Andy Shallal, Medea Benjamin, Hazami Barmada and more. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event. All proceeds from the book go to the youth of Gaza.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of WE ARE NOT NUMBERS will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will not be livestreamed.

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books

Pam Bailey is a freelance journalist and social-justice activist. She lived and worked in the Gaza Strip immediately following the 2008/9 Israeli assault. Today, she is a communications consultant and writer/editor for nonprofits such as ImpACT International for Human Rights Policies. She has also founded More Than Our Crimes, a nonprofit initiative focused on assuring second chances for individuals convicted of violent crimes in the United States. She is based in Washington DC.

We Are Not Numbers is a storytelling initiative that empowers young Palestinian writers—especially from Gaza—to share their lived experiences, humanizing news headlines and advocating for justice, human rights, and peace through powerful, personal narratives. WANN is a fiscally-sponsored project of Nonviolence International, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Learn more at wearenotnumbers.org

BOOK DETAILS

We Are Not Numbers

The Voices of Gaza's Youth

Edited by Ahmed Alnaouq and Pam Bailey

September 2, 2025 | Hardcover, 343 pages, $25.00

100% of the book’s proceeds are donated to We Are Not Numbers, the organization

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