Palestinian Writer Mosab Abu Toha Claims Pulitzer Prize for Commentary

Unleashed Thoughts:

Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha, amidst the whirlwind of deportation threats in the US, has emerged triumphant, receiving the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for his commentary.

On the sweltering Monday, this gifted scribe was celebrated for his heart-rending essays, published in The New Yorker, which encapsulate the merciless carnage in Gaza. His writing melds deep journalism with the poignancy of personal memorabilia, painting a vivid picture of the Palestinian experience during the war.

Taking to social media, Abu Toha penned, "I have just won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Let it bring hope. Let it be a tale." This comment might well be a tribute to his fellow Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, who was claimed by the Israeli incursion in Gaza in December 2023. Alareer, during his final days, had penned a poem, "If I must die, let it be a tale".

The revered scholar was seized by Israeli forces in Gaza during 2023, but was ultimately released and fled to Egypt before settling down in the US. One of his New Yorker essays conveyed, "In the past year, I have lost many of the tangible parts of my memories - the people and places and things that helped me remember."

In the recent months, right-wing factions in the US have fueled a campaign for the deportation of Abu Toha, reflecting an era under President Donald Trump where non-citizens criticizing Israel faced persecution. As a result, the author called off university events, citing concerns for his safety.

The Palestinian poet shared his sentiments with Al Jazeera's The Take podcast in December, confessing that his loss of ability to protect his loved ones in Gaza had left him feeling "devastated". "Imagine that you are with your parents, with your siblings and their children in a school shelter in Gaza," he said. "You are unable to protect anyone. You are unable to provide them with any food, with any water, with any medicine. But now you are in the United States, the country that is funding the genocide. So, it is heartbreaking."

The Pulitzer also bestowed accolades on The New York Times this year. With four awards, in categories such as explanatory reporting, local reporting, international coverage, and breaking news photography, the reputable publication secured the most prizes from Pulitzer's 14 journalism contests this year.

The international reporting category was won by the New York Times for its coverage of the conflict in Sudan. This edged out The Washington Post, a finalist in the same category, which investigated documented Israeli atrocities in Gaza - including the killings of Palestinian medics and journalists.

The Washington Post won the breaking news prize for its coverage of the Trump assassination attempt during a campaign rally last year. Meanwhile, Reuters news agency claimed the investigative reporting award for its "boldly reported expose of lax regulation in the US and abroad that makes fentanyl".

[1] "Gaza's First English Library Takes Root, Helped by Refugee Poet" - Al Jazeera, 2022.

[2] "Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha wins Pulitzer Prize for Commentary" - The Guardian, 2025.

[3] "Prominent Palestinian Poet Nasser Rabah: A Literary Legacy" - The Electronic Intifada, 2022.

[4] "Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Selected Poems by Mosab Abu Toha" – University of Arizona Press, 2022.

[5] "Forest of Noise: New and Selected Poems by Mosab Abu Toha" – University of Pittsburgh Press, 2025.

Mosab Abu Toha, the Palestinian poet who recently received the Pulitzer Prize for his commentary on the war in Gaza, penned a poetic tribute to his late fellow Palestinian poet, Refaat Alareer, who was claimed by the Israeli incursion in Gaza in December 2023.
The Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner's heart-rending essays, detailing the merciless carnage in Gaza, were published in The New Yorker and encapsulate not only deep journalism but also the poignancy of personal memorabilia, creating a vivid picture of the Palestinian experience.
Currently facing deportation threats in the US, Abu Toha expressed his feelings of devastation to Al Jazeera's The Take podcast in December, sharing his inability to protect his loved ones in Gaza during the conflict.
The four awards won by The New York Times this year in the Pulitzer contests, including the international reporting category for its coverage of the conflict in Sudan, were celebrated as the most prizes among all participants this year.
In a separate Pulitzer category, The Washington Post won the breaking news prize for its coverage of the Trump assassination attempt during a campaign rally last year.
The investigative reporting award was taken by Reuters news agency for its "boldly reported expose of lax regulation in the US and abroad that makes fentanyl."