The Palestinian Ministry of Culture announced today, Thursday, the names of the winners of the State Awards in literature, arts, and humanities for the year 2023, most of which were awarded to artists and writers from the besieged Gaza Strip.
A statement from the ministry mentioned that the "Palestine Appreciation Award" for overall works went to actor and director Muhammad Bakri from Galilee and novelist Omar Hamash from Gaza. The State Award in literature was won by poet Abdul Naser Saleh from Tulkarm and novelist Talal Abu Shawish from Gaza.
In the field of social studies and humanities, the award went to the imprisoned writer Kamal Abu Hanish from Nablus. The arts award was granted to calligrapher Saher Al-Kaabi from the West Bank and visual artist Abdul Hadi Shala from Gaza, who is currently residing in Canada.
The "State Award for Young Creators" was given to novelist Salman Osama Ahmed and filmmaker Sabih Zidan Al-Masri.
Palestinian Culture Minister Atef Abu Saif stated in the announcement that these awards "represent recognition and acknowledgment from Palestine to its intellectuals for their continued efforts in cultural creativity, and to affirm the beautiful civilizational and historical identity of Palestine."
He added that the announcement of the competition results was initially scheduled for November but was postponed due to the ongoing extermination war waged by the Israeli occupation on Gaza. Abu Saif emphasized Gaza's significant presence in the results of the State Awards, "which strongly indicates Gaza’s position in Palestinian culture and what it has contributed in terms of influences on the elevation and refinement of our national culture."
