Reem Jamal al-Farra was one of the most exceptional students I have ever taught. She was ambitious, diligent and she never missed an English translation class.
She would graduate with a bachelor’s degree in English literature from al-Aqsa University in Gaza and go on to work as a translator and writer.
Her life was too short. She was killed by Israel on 25 October 2023 at the age of 26, along with her sister Hala and brother Tawfiq.
I recall our last conversation vividly. The Israeli army had urged those of us in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south, and Reem generously offered my family her home in Khan Younis as a place of refuge.
I always said that Reem had a heart of gold.
When I learned of her death, I was in disbelief, utterly shocked and in denial. The news left me devastated and helpless, as if a part of me had been lost. …more
