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Despite the Israeli siege, poverty and unemployment, cultural centers are emerging in the Gaza Strip. Inside El-Khodr Shrine, an ancient monastery in Deir al-Balah that dates back to the third century, a group of young writers and poets have started meeting regularly to discuss art, literature and other aspects of culture, providing a break from the everyday woes in the Gaza Strip.
Writer Nabil al-Areeny founded the Toukan Literary Salon in May 2017, specifically choosing Deir al-Balah, a small, impoverished city in central Gaza with few job opportunities, a handful of recreational centers and a large refugee camp.
