Ahmed Miqdad

Ahmed Miqdad is a Palestinian poet, novelist, and educator from Gaza whose writing gives voice to the lived experiences of Palestinians affected by war, displacement, and loss. Born in 1985, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in education. Through his poetry and fiction, Miqdad explores themes of resilience, memory, identity, and hope, drawing on his personal experiences of living through multiple conflicts in Gaza. His work seeks to raise international awareness of the humanitarian realities faced by the Palestinian people.

Miqdad is the author of several acclaimed works, including Gaza Narrates Poetry (2014), Stolen Lives (2015), When Hope Is Not Enough (2019), and the novel Falastin: The Hope of Tomorrow (2018). He is also the co-author, with John P. Portelli, of The Shadow: Poems for the Children of Gaza. This collaborative collection reflects on grief, mortality, solidarity, and endurance, connecting the devastation of war in Gaza with broader human experiences of suffering and hope. The volume is illustrated by Palestinian artist Malak Mattar, whose artwork complements the poems’ emotional depth.

Beyond his literary accomplishments, Miqdad has become an important contemporary voice in Palestinian literature, using poetry as both artistic expression and historical testimony. His writing combines personal reflection with social and political commentary, emphasizing the dignity, perseverance, and humanity of people living under extraordinary circumstances. Through his published works and international collaborations, Ahmed Miqdad continues to contribute to global conversations on justice, peace, and the enduring power of literature to bear witness to human experience.