Fatima Raza Hassan
The 13th Annual Palestine Book Awards (PBA) winners were announced in London on November 8 with Amanda Najib’s, Lana Makes Purple Pizza: A Palestinian Food Tale, making history as the first children’s book to win an award.
Judges praised the book as “the perfect light-hearted book to start a conversation about Palestine with your young ones.” Accepting the award, Najib dedicated it to the children of Gaza and all Palestinian children, saying: “Our stories deserve to be held to the light, not just as a testament to our endurance, but as a celebration of our existence.”
The ceremony followed a public event at London’s P21 Gallery, where shortlisted authors shared insights into their works and met with readers. Over 50 books were submitted for consideration, with six titles recognized across five categories.
Dr Daud Abdullah, Director of Middle East Monitor (MEMO), which organizes the awards, opened the evening by reflecting on the challenges of the past year, including the devastating impact of Israel’s recent actions in Gaza. He highlighted the personal losses endured by MEMO staff, including the deaths of one writer and their family.
Abdullah called out Western governments, including the UK, for what he described as complicity in Israel’s actions. “Our foreign minister and prime minister are both human rights lawyers, but they have refused to call out the genocide in Gaza for what it is,” he said.
The awards aim to amplify Palestinian literature and culture amidst ongoing challenges. Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, underscored the cultural significance of such efforts, calling literature a unifying force for Palestinians.
“Culture is what brings Palestinians together, and I firmly believe that the third intifada will be cultural,” Zomlot said, adding that the global movement for Palestine represents “an effort not only for Palestinian justice but also for global justice.”
Palestinian-born academic and author Dr Ghada Karmi was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her unwavering efforts to highlight the plight of Palestinians. In her keynote address, she described the current era as “a dark time in the history of Palestine” but praised the awards for keeping the “spark of Palestine burning bright.”
The evening concluded with a message of hope and resilience. “We are not alone,” said Zomlot. “We will emerge from this genocide a free people in a free Palestine.”
The Palestine Book Awards remains a beacon for Palestinian literature and culture, with nominations for the 2025 edition set to open early next year.
Academic Award:
Dr Lisa Bhungalia – Elastic Empire: Refashioning War Through Aid in Palestine
Translation Award:
Hazem Jamjoum for translating Ghassan Kanafani’s The Revolution of 1936–1939 in Palestine
Creative Award:
Sandra Barrilaro & Teresa Aranguren – Against Erasure: A Photographic Memory of Palestine Before the Nakba; Alan Morrison & Atef Alshaer – Out of Gaza: New Palestinian Poetry
Oral History Award:
Khadijeh Habashneh – Knights of Cinema: The Story of the Palestine Film Unit
Children’s Book Award:
Amanda Najib – Lana Makes Purple Pizza: A Palestinian Food Tale
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Dr Ghada Karmi
Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dr Ghada Karmi addresses the audience at the Palestine Book Awards. (Photo Courtesy of PBA)
