World
Gaza Playwright Ali Abu Yasin Receives English PEN Writer of Courage Award
Ali Abu Yasin, a 62‑year‑old playwright from Gaza, was named the 2026 Writer of Courage by English PEN on Thursday. The award, presented at the British Library in London, recognizes his artistic resilience amid the ongoing conflict. Abu Yasin began writing plays and mastering the oud as a teenager in the al‑Shati refugee camp, one of Gaza’s largest camps that has been targeted by recent attacks. After the war began in October 2023, he stopped writing plays and instead documented life under Israeli bombardment. He has described the situation as having no theatre, with actors rehearsing in makeshift tents amid gunfire.
Abu Yasin has survived multiple near‑death experiences, witnessed the death of people around him, and endured the loss of his home and his son trapped under rubble. He has worked to protect his family from famine and to document events so the world can hear his voice. After a hiatus, he wrote several screenplays that he hid and carried with him during displacement.
In 2004 he joined the Said Al‑Mishal Theatre, a cultural hub in Gaza City that was leveled in a 2018 Israeli bombing. In 2008 he began the Gaza Monologues, a series depicting life in Gaza. A few weeks ago, he left Gaza with the support of an artist residency programme in France, saying, “The war lives in me, Gaza lives in me.” He has adopted habits such as conserving water and minimising waste, developed during the humanitarian crisis.
His recent play, 50 Minutes, was shown in Gaza and tells the story of genocide and mourning. Actors rehearsed in a makeshift tent in a car park, many of them with no prior theatre experience. Abu Yasin was nominated by British academic and cultural critic Jacqueline Rose, who won the 2026 PEN Pinter Prize.
English PEN described the Writer of Courage award as given to an author who defends freedom of expression, often at great risk to their safety and liberty, and shares the PEN Pinter Prize with the winner. The organisation, the United Kingdom branch of PEN International, has called for an arms embargo on Israel and condemned the killing of Palestinian writers.
Abu Yasin has three children and 16 grandchildren, all in Gaza except his son Amjad, an actor in France. He said, “In Gaza, we have simple dreams. We want to live in peace and freedom. We want the sky and the seas to be open. We just want some freedom.”
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ali Abu Yasin?
Ali Abu Yasin is a 62‑year‑old playwright from Gaza who received the 2026 English PEN Writer of Courage Award.
Where was the award ceremony held?
The award was presented at the British Library in London.
What does the Writer of Courage award recognize?
It recognizes an author who defends freedom of expression, often at great risk to their safety and liberty, and shares the PEN Pinter Prize with the winner.