In this conference, Palestinian novelist and writer Ahmed Masoud will delve into Gaza's enduring significance in the cultural landscape of Palestine and the broader Middle East. He argues that art and literature have been vital for the survival of the city and its communities amidst decades of occupation and warfare, particularly during the recent Israeli genocide. Modern Palestinian literature is often referred to as 'resistance literature,' consisting of works specifically designed to challenge Israeli occupation and colonial stereotypes. For Masoud, who grew up in Gaza, literature has endowed people with 'sumud' (resilience) that helps them endure years of harsh realities. For instance, poetry emerged as a therapeutic medium, providing solace to both writers and readers, enveloping them in the necessary hope to survive. Masoud is the author of the novel ‘Vanished - The Mysterious Disappearance of Mustafa Ouda’ (2015), a narrative fiction in which a young man searches for his missing