Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
16 October 2024 | 08:00 CAT
3 min read

While global attention remains on Palestine this October, Radio Islam attended the launch of Letters from the Sky, a children’s book inspired by the resilience of Palestinian youth. The event, hosted in the vibrant courtyard of the Baitul Hikmah Library in Sydenham, Durban, was a celebration of Palestinian culture and solidarity.

As the guests savoured traditional Palestinian cuisine from Palfood RSA, learned the art of tying the keffiyeh and immersed themselves in a day of cultural appreciation, Radio Islam sat down with the book’s author, Zaynab Khan, for an insightful conversation.

Reflecting on the spirit of the Palestinian children who inspired her work, Khan shared: “Their courage is like the mountains.” Her words, filled with admiration, echoed the theme of resilience and hope that runs throughout her book, offering a glimpse into the strength of young Palestinians living under occupation.

She explained that the title of her new book refers to the Israeli Defense Force’s technique of warning Palestinian civilians to evacuate, which is reminiscent of the apartheid government’s tactic in South Africa of dropping pamphlets to inform people to leave an area under threat, warning them of potential death if they failed to evacuate.

She emphasised that the central message of her book is to highlight the plight of children who have suffered as collateral damage in this war. Additionally, she aims to illustrate to young readers what true courage truly embodies.

“I wanted the book to send out the message that these kids are valiant, and their courage is far greater than we are exposed to,” she said.

She said that while children may idolise fictional heroes like Wonder Woman, those figures are just characters portrayed by actors. Instead, she stressed the importance of focusing on the real heroes of today: the children who, despite their circumstances, continue to persevere. These young individuals witness their families, homes, and futures being taken from them, yet they remain strong. She praised their resilience and lack of fear of the occupation as “incredible”.

“Children need to recognise the courage of Palestinian children and recognise that they have that courage within themselves,” she said.

Khan noted that she intentionally avoided delving deeply into the political aspects of her narrative. Instead, she focused on the premise that many children are unaware of the Nakba, a pivotal event in Palestinian history marked by mass displacement. “My book starts with ‘Do you know where Palestine is?’ in the sense of Can you point it out on the map? There are subtle historical facts throughout the book to be able to take the reader through a corrective process, like what you knew, and now what the truth is and what is shown from the other perspective,” she said.

Khan expressed her fascination with Leila Khaled, a resistance icon she discovered during her research for the book. Her eyes sparkled as she recounted how Khaled, a Palestinian liberation fighter, became a symbol of resistance and female empowerment when she hijacked her first plane in 1969. This audacious act made Khaled an international icon of armed struggle. Remarkably, she even underwent cosmetic surgery to ensure she could carry out similar missions in the future.

On that note, a motion to rename Sandton Drive after Palestinian activist Leila Khaled to emphasise solidarity with the Palestinian people has come up again. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has voiced his support for the motion and called on the ANC to officially adopt the name change, and encouraged communities to sign a petition in support of the Palestinian cause.

Khan emphasises that educational awareness is crucial for informing people about the ongoing situation in Palestine. She believes this awareness should go hand in hand with efforts to raise donations to support those affected.

“The amount of information that young children have access to today is far greater than before, and by not providing that educational awareness, we are doing them a great disservice. Children especially are left out of this conversation; we take them to marches, but do they really know where Palestine is? Do they know what Masjid-al-Aqsa is?” she questioned.

Khan advocates that it is our responsibility to preserve Palestinian culture and symbols, which are being systematically erased amid ongoing ethnic genocide.