Friends remember Inas al-Saqa, one of Gaza’s celebrated actors and playwrights

Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in the aftermath of 7 October has left thousands of people dead, the vast majority of whom are civilians.

For much of the world, their experience of these Palestinian casualties has been in the form of death tolls that creep higher and images of mourning relatives, sometimes carrying the bodies of their loved ones.

Each death represents its own story and even as the killings continue, details about those who have died are coming out.

One such case is that of Inas al-Saqa, a Palestinian playwright and actor, who was killed in late October, with three of her children, Leen, Sara and Ibrahim.

Khaled Juma, a prominent poet based in Ramallah, expressed his grief on Facebook over the death of Inas and her children.

"Today, my friend, the curtain has fallen…and the theatre’s stage has darkened," Jumaa wrote.

Saja Elyan, a friend of Saqa’s daughter Ritta, shared her disbelief on social media, writing: "It's truly heartwrenching. Ritta is in intensive care. Please keep her in your prayers, and may God grant her the strength to endure this immense loss. 

“I'm writing, but I can't comprehend this. How long, oh God?"

Read more: Friends remember Inas al-Saqa, one of Gaza’s celebrated actors and playwrights