To have the honour of representing Palestinian literature at such a prestigious prize was an incredible opportunity. I am beyond thrilled to champion literature of this calibre on the world stage. I want to extend my congratulations to Nasrallah for his incredible body of work, his humanitarian soul and his ongoing dedication to the Palestinian people, their country and their history.

I also want to thank World Literature Today,  the Neustadt family and prize foundation and the other jury members for making this possible. World Literature Today released a statement on the win saying:

“In her nominating statement, Malherbe said that “Nasrallah’s literary works span universal issues and themes woven into the Palestinian struggle that allow readers to connect deeply with Palestine outside of a colonial framework.” She went on to say that his work “is now more important than ever considering the plight of Palestinians. It is time the world sees the true Palestine, and Nasrallah’s work can offer this perspective.

”Robert Con Davis-Undiano, World Literature Today’s executive director, echoed Malherbe’s sense of urgency, noting that “his winning this award will mark a significant moment in the Western reapproach to Palestinian culture.”

It is a privilege to use my voice in this way, and I want to thank everyone who is using their own voices and platforms to champion the most important issue of our time.