Indiana University is one of the latest schools to crack down on free speech on Palestine. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate votes not to know about Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

Throughout her five decade long career, renowned Palestinian artist Samia Halaby has been known for her stunning abstract expressionist works, as well as her outspoken activism. Her latest project, Drawing the Kafr Qassem Massacre, raises the question of how Halaby addresses and locates politics in her work – and whether her Marxist understanding of politics is fast receding from an art world increasingly focused on questions of political efficacy. 

Susan Abulhawa says the Palestine Writes Literature Festival is a moment for Palestinian writers to demonstrate that “the power of culture is stronger than the culture of power.” Said Abulhawa, “As those with extraordinary political, economic and military force shrink the land beneath our feet, we will definitely expand our cultural and intellectual presence in the world.”