To attract attention on an international level on the situation of women and children in Gaza, Athena40 has produced A Gaza Monologues play, released on March 5th, 2024 to mark International Women's month.

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• 70 per cent of people killed in Gaza are estimated to be women and children.

• Two mothers are killed in Gaza every hour.

• More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, since October 7.

• The number of people killed has tripled the total of the previous 15 years combined.

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The Gaza Monologues are testimonies written by ASHTAR youth in 2010, after the first war on the Gaza Strip. Tragically, these Monologues are still accurate today. They are highlighting the horrors, hopes and resilience of the courageous Gazans to a wider audience, bringing out their voices. 

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The performance consists of readings that have engaged influential women of different nationalities and backgrounds, such as philanthropist and entrepreneur Muna AbuSulayman (Saudi Arabia), film director Shamim Sarif (UK/Canada), career diplomat Attiya Mahmood (Pakistan), theatre director Emily Louizou (Greece), author Grazia Giuliani (Italy/UK), Catalan artist and theatre director Angels Aymars (Spain), it premiered as an online play on March 5, 2024.

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By sharing these Monologues, Athena40 in partnership with theatre director Iman Aoun and the ASHTAR Theatre, launch an international awareness campaign around the ongoing tragedy in Gaza and the impact on women and children.

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A synchronous panel discussion in Amman and Jerusalem connecting to London followed the premier.

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“I am part of the Gaza Monologues in honour of the thousands of Palestinian women who are the hidden victims of war, suffering death and the unimaginable loss of their children.”  - Shamim Sarif - Novelist, Screenwriter, Film Director (UK/Canada)

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“I voiced a monologue written by a young woman from Gaza to continue the chain of witnesses, to join other voices that want to stop the war. Will it help? Silence is even more useless.” - Ángels Aymar – Playwright, Theatre Director, Actor (Spain)

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"For me The Gaza Monologues is a platform to bring people together to cultivate our collective humanity that is at stake these days  due to the genocidal war on Gaza. It is also to strengthen our solidarity actions and think ahead as a collective, for the betterment of our world." – Iman Aoun - Theatre Director, Founder ASHTAR Theatre (Palestine)

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“The ongoing genocide in Gaza to wipe out the Palestinian people has exposed the immorality, hypocrisy, racism and complicity of Western States and corporations in the most horrific crime in recent history. The need to create a world where this cannot happen again is paramount.” - Mary Nazzal Batayneh – Barrister, Social Entrepreneur (Jordan)

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“We cannot afford to avert our eyes from the truth. We should alert everyone about the dire circumstances for women and children in Gaza, and women in war zones around the world.” - Elizabeth H. Filippouli - Writer, Social Entrepreneur (UK/Greece)

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"I am part of the Gaza Monologues, committed to amplifying the voices of those affected by this devastating war and sharing their stories with the world." - Dr Roula Azar Douglas – Author/Journalist (Lebanon)

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“The heartbreaking stories and pictures we see of orphaned and wounded children are beyond our ability to endure.  The world must insist on a #CeaseFire and a just solution to this 75 year occupation.” - Muna AbuSulayman - Social Entrepreneur (Saudi Arabia)

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“It is the least I can do to demand a ceasefire.” - Emily Louizou - Theatre Director (Greece)

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Watch the Global Reading of “Gaza Monologues” on our channel on YouTube