Numerous research articles on Palestinian literature describe it as 'Literature of Resistance': a set of works designed specifically to challenge the Israeli occupation and colonial stereotypes.
Masoud is one of those writers, but in his lecture he also educated the audience on other Palestinians who use their education and talent to tackle the oppressor through poetry.
Cormac Kinsella from Cúirt described Masoud and the event: "For author Ahmed Masoud, who grew up in Gaza, Palestine, literature provided people with Sumud (resilience ) to allow them to endure years of harsh reality. Poetry, for instance, became the comforting therapeutic medium of writing, cocooning writers and readers with the hope needed to survive. In this lecture, Masoud discussed this form of literature and how Gaza has been, over the centuries, a literary hub for the entire region."
Finishing the lecture with his poem 'Words', Masoud reminded the audience to remember the power of words, and how they have the power to change everything. His delivery, story, and emotion resonated with everyone in the crowd, and following his poem, he received a well-deserved standing ovation.
People dried tears and others shouted, "Free Palestine" on their way out of the Town Hall Theatre.
Galway connected with Masoud, his lecture, and the event as a whole on a deep level. A nod must go toward the organisers of Cúirt for bringing this segment back to the festival, which gave a voice and a platform, for a moment, to Palestine.
