The renowned poet and literature professor Refaat Alareer was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City alongside his brother, sister, and nephews in December 2023. He was just forty-four years old, but had already established a worldwide reputation that was further enhanced when, in the wake of his death, the poem that gives this book its title became a global sensation.
Archiv: Refaat Alareer
If I must die
Refaat Alareer
(1979 – 2023)
Dr. Refaat Alareer was a Palestinian writer, poet, translator, university professor and activist from the occupied Gaza Strip. On December 6, 2023, he was murdered by an Israeli airstrike along with his brother, sister and their children in Israel‘s ongoing genocidal siege of Gaza of 2023.
Just five weeks prior to his killing, he shared his poem titled „If I must die“, and pinned it to his Twitter profile. Amidst the outpouring of grief, as news of his death spread online, many people from around the world paid tribute to Refaat by offering their own translations of his prophetic poem in to their local languages.
This website is a collection of some of these dozens of heartfelt translations in memory and honor of Refaat Alareer, @itranslate123, and in support of the the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
Frankfurt – Germany, reciting the poem of poet, academic, and storyteller, the Palestinian martyr Professor Refaat Al-Areer @itranslate123 in several languages during a protest that called for #StopGazaGenocide #NotATarget #NotANumber
If I must die,
you must live
to tell my story
to sell my things
to buy a piece of cloth
and some strings,
(make it white with a long tail)
so that a child, somewhere in Gaza
while looking heaven in the eye
awaiting his dad who left in a blaze —
and bid no one farewell
not even to his flesh
not even to himself —
sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up
above
and thinks for a moment an angel is there
bringing back love
If I must die
let it bring hope
let it be a tale.
Prominent Gaza professor and writer killed in airstrike, weeks after telling CNN he and his family had ‘nowhere else to go’
Alareer spoke to CNN from Gaza City, on October 12 and October 13. He gave consent in written messages to share the recording in the event of his death.
Weeks later, on December 7, Alareer was killed by a strike in Shajaiya, in northern Gaza, his friend and colleague, Jehad Abusalim, confirmed to CNN. He was staying with his brother, his sister, and her four children, who were also killed, according to Abusalim, a writer, 35, based in Washington, DC.
He left behind his wife, and children aged 7 to 21. CNN has been unable to reach members of Alareer’s family.
Important information on Refaat’s assassination: The day before yesterday, Refaat received a phone call from the Israeli intelligence about locating him in the school where he took refuge.
They informed him that they were going to kill him. He left the school not wanting to endanger the others, and at 6 p.m. his sister‘s apartment was bombed, where he was killed, his sister and her four children
Refaat wrote it in English for the world to read it. But let it live in Arabic too, Refaat’s mother tongue
tried my best in brazilian portuguese
In Greek:
Mi traducción (con mucha libertad creativa) y una pequeña ilustración del poema del Dr. Refaat Alareer al español. Rest in power, you will be free
Came across Dr. Refaat Alareer‘s poem „If I must die“ just a few days ago, I cried and couldn‘t help but translated it to Chinese without his permission. Now that he‘s gone.
„if I must die“ Japanese translation of Refaat Alareer‘s poem written in traditional Japanese calligraphy
If I must die, let it be a tale.
#FreePalestine
#Gaza
Beautiful tribute to Refaat Alareer in London this evening, as hundreds recite his poem “If I must die”
“If I must die…” Refaat Alareer | Gaza
The Democratic Party and Biden are responsible for the Gaza genocide perpetrated by Israel.
(04.12.2023)