In the heart of Chicago, where cultures and voices intersect from all over the world, we gather to present the stories of Palestine. Stories that are not just narratives but the heartbeat of life, pain, and hope, conveyed through the emerging platform BYPA, which aims to document and narrate the stories of Palestinians through various artistic and creative mediums.

Why tell our stories? Because the Palestinian story is not just a passing news headline; it is the details of a child dreaming of freedom, a mother creating life from rubble, and a photographer documenting truth in the face of injustice. These are stories that BYPA aims to convey to the world with honesty and creativity, to remain a testament to an undeniable truth.

Home is a deeply moving photographic and cultural event that explores what home means for the people of Gaza—where home is not just a building, but memory, identity, and defiance in the face of erasure. Featuring the powerful photography of Ismail Abu Hatab and the evocative words of authors Yahya Ashour, Ahmad Almallah, and others joining online, the event gives voice to the lived experience of loss, exile, and the unbreakable bond to one’s land. In Gaza, the destruction of home is not only a humanitarian crisis, but also a wound to culture, belonging, and the future. This gathering invites us to listen, to feel, and to recognize that the loss of home is not only a personal tragedy, but a collective call for justice and dignity.

We ask that all in-person attendees wear masks in the event space during the program for the health and well-being of the speakers and other guests. There will be a reception after the program with light refreshments and time for folks to fully explore the exhibit. 

Participant Bios:

Ismail Abu Hatab (Photographer) is a Palestinian photographer, filmmaker, and founder of BYPA- by Palestine from Gaza, whose work powerfully captures the resilience, grief, and spirit of a people living under blockade. Through his lens, he documents not only the visible destruction of homes and lives, but also the unseen emotional and cultural impact of displacement and conflict. His photography is deeply rooted in personal experience, offering an unfiltered look at daily life in Gaza with humanity, honesty, and urgency. As both a visual storyteller and filmmaker, Abu Hatab brings to light stories that are too often overlooked—transforming individual suffering into collective memory and resistance.

Matt Perry is a Chicago-based writer and social worker. He and Ismail became connected through a mutual friend in early 2024. He manages the day-to-day tasks of BYPA organizing in Chicago. Matt has been involved in local activist networks in Chicago since 2015.

Yahya Ashour is a distinguished Palestinian author, poet, and cultural commentator whose works explore themes of identity, exile, and the Palestinian struggle for justice. With a unique voice in contemporary Palestinian literature, Ashour’s works reflect both the personal and collective experience of Palestinians, often combining elements of traditional storytelling with modern literary techniques. His contributions to the cultural dialogue surrounding Palestine have been widely acknowledged, and his literary works have been translated into several languages. Yehia Ashour’s poetry and essays focus on themes of belonging, displacement, and the quest for peace and self-determination for Palestine.

Ahmad Almallah is a Palestinian American writer and cultural commentator whose work is deeply rooted in the exploration of Palestinian identity and the diaspora experience. Through his writing, Almallah delves into themes of migration, memory, and the historical and ongoing challenges faced by the Palestinian people. His novels, essays, and poetry provide a nuanced perspective on the Palestinian narrative, highlighting the complexities of living in exile while maintaining a strong connection to one’s heritage and homeland. Almallah is recognized for his evocative storytelling, which reflects both personal experiences and broader socio-political issues affecting Palestine. He is committed to sharing the voices of Palestinian authors and intellectuals in global conversations.

Sarah Aziza is a Palestinian American writer, translator, and artist with roots in ‘Ibdis and Deir al-Balah, Gaza. She is the author of The Hollow Half, a genre-bending memoir of Palestinian diaspora and return. She is the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship and numerous grants from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, and has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, South Africa, the West Bank, and the United States. Her award-winning journalism, poetry, essays, and experimental nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The Baffler, Harper’s Magazine, Mizna, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and The Nation, among other publications.

This event is cosponsored by BYPA and Haymarket Books. While all of our events are freely available, we ask that those who are able make a solidarity donation in support of our important publishing and programming work.