Mosab Abu Toha dines with Martin Scorsese
Listen to article
In a post shared to Instagram on Monday, Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha posed with American filmmaker Martin Scorsese at Mosab's celebratory dinner party in honour of his Pulitzer Prize.
"What you see is a rare smile," the poet wrote in the caption. "Before I headed for my MSNBC interview yesterday, Maram, my wife, and I had an incredible dinner with some of my greatest friends in this world. But guess who made sure to join us to honour me and celebrate the Pulitzer Prize, even in the smallest way as our families in Gaza starve and continue to be in danger? Well, there is only one Martin Scorsese."
He made sure to express gratitude for all his invited guests. "The four of them - Maram, Mary, Judith, and Martin - gave me the energy I needed to do everything, including the interview. Mary fed me well. Martin made us laugh. Thank you, Mary and Judith, for your immense love. And happy Mother's Day."
Mosab won the acclaimed award earlier in May for his collection of essays in The New Yorker documenting the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, where he has lived for most of his life. Announcing the win on X, he wrote, "I have just won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Let it bring hope. Let it be a tale."
The Pulitzer board noted that the essays depicted the "physical and emotional carnage in Gaza that combine deep reporting with the intimacy of memoir to convey the Palestinian experience of more than a year and a half of war with Israel."
Speaking of the accolade during his interview with MSNBC, the poet said, "I feel so heartbroken, but at the same time, I feel honoured for having won this award. My friends and family in Gaza are very proud."
Mosab admitted that he doesn't quite know how he feels given the current state of his homeland. "Everyday, we are losing someone. Everyday, we are learning about a new tragedy that is unfolding, not only for my family but our friends and citizens in Gaza."
One of the essays chronicled that the 32-year-old poet was detained at a checkpoint by Israeli forces in 2023 while trying to flee his home in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza with his Maram and their three young children. He added that the soldiers "separated me from my family, beat me, and interrogated me."
However, Mosab was able to leave for the US after his friends from abroad intervened and applied pressure for his release. Still, in his essays, he looks back on an easier time. "I yearn to return to Gaza, sit at the kitchen table with my mother and father, and make tea for my sisters. I do not need to eat. I only want to look at them again."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Barack and Michelle Obama share rare family photo for Sasha's 24th birthday
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama marked their daughter Sasha Obama's 24th birthday by sharing a rare family photograph on social media. The image, posted on both Barack and Michelle Obama's official Instagram accounts, shows the family — Barack, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha — smiling and embracing one another. The occasion marks a rare public appearance for Sasha, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight since leaving the White House. Barack Obama, 63, captioned his post: 'Happy birthday, Sasha! Watching you grow into the incredible woman you are has been a true gift. I'll always be proud of you and will always be here for you.' Michelle, 61, echoed the sentiment, writing, 'Can't believe how quickly time has flown. I'm so proud of the woman you've become. Love you always!' Since leaving public office, the Obama daughters have pursued quieter lives. Sasha remains mostly private, while Malia, 26, has stepped into the entertainment industry under the name Malia Ann, dropping her last name in an effort to carve out her own identity. Michelle Obama recently spoke about this decision on the Sibling Revelry podcast, noting her daughters' desire to earn their place without relying on the family name. She also revealed that both daughters have sought independence since their teenage years but now better understand their parents' choices. This public moment highlights the family's continued emphasis on privacy, self-reliance, and growth—values they say have guided their daughters into adulthood.
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Natalie Reynolds seen distraught outside TikTok HQ after account ban linked to controversial prank video
A video showing content creator Natalie Reynolds in distress outside TikTok's Los Angeles headquarters has gone viral across social platforms. The 26-year-old influencer appeared visibly upset while attempting to communicate through the building's glass doors during a phone call, reportedly seeking reinstatement of her banned account. Reynolds first gained attention in 2022 through popular lip-sync and dance videos before expanding to prank content and collaborative skits with boyfriend Zachary Huelsman, building audiences of 5.6 million YouTube subscribers and 133,000 Instagram followers. ‼️TikToker Natalie Reynolds was banned from TikTok for deceiving a mentally ill homeless woman into jumping into a lake, by promising her $20.00, and then running away when she could not swim. Austin fire dept/paramedics had to pull her out of the water. — i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) June 9, 2025 TikTok is a career 😬 ... according to Natalie Reynolds and it should go with a messed makeup 😂 Note: She got banned after convincing a homeless woman to jump into the lake for $20 then runaway. — Miriam 🫶🇪🇺🫶 (@Polit1cswithM) June 10, 2025 'I can't swim - I can only float' Natalie Reynolds was a famous TikToker with 2.5M Followers - she convinced a homeless person to jump in this river for $20 and then ran away when she started getting in trouble. TikTok later banned her. Days later she was filmed outside… — Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) June 10, 2025 The incident follows recent controversy surrounding Reynolds' May prank video in Austin, where she allegedly offered a homeless woman $20 to jump into Lady Bird Lake despite knowing the individual couldn't swim. According to NY Post reports, emergency services responded after Reynolds and her group left the struggling woman unattended. While the influencer claimed the stunt was part of a "scavenger hunt," the footage showed her walking away as the woman called for help. Reynolds attributes her TikTok ban to professional jealousy from fellow creators, though many online commentators have connected the suspension to backlash from the lake incident. The platform has not publicly commented on its decision. Since the ban, Reynolds has shifted focus to Kick streaming, where she regularly engages with her 33,000 followers. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between controversial content creation and platform moderation policies, particularly regarding potentially harmful pranks. Industry observers note the case exemplifies the challenges influencers face when balancing viral attention with responsible content creation.
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Justin Bieber references ketamine in cryptic social media posts about mental health
Justin Bieber has sparked concern with a series of cryptic Instagram posts referencing ketamine and expressing frustration about societal pressures. The 31-year-old singer's messages, shared on June 7, included philosophical musings on self-worth, mental health, and spirituality—along with a controversial mention of the drug. In one post, Bieber pushed back against the idea that relentless hard work guarantees fulfillment. "People keep telling me there's more work to do after I've given everything," he wrote alongside an extreme close-up photo of his face. "I listened to fools who told me to work harder, but there's no end to trying to earn your spot in this life." He later struck a more optimistic note, adding, "You have everything you need right now." Bieber also criticized modern work culture, arguing that life should center on love, not labor. "God will always inspire you to work hard," he wrote before adding, "Stop playing God, please." In a more alarming post, he shared an AI-generated response suggesting ketamine—a legal prescription drug used for depression and pain management—has been misused to "control people's emotions," particularly targeting Black individuals. The "Peaches" singer then shifted focus to spirituality, writing, "I always knew Jesus was the answer to our pain." He questioned the pressure to constantly self-improve, arguing that excessive effort can lead to self-absorption rather than genuine growth. His solution? "Let go, not try harder." This isn't the first time Bieber has shared enigmatic messages. Just days earlier, on June 3, he called "loyalty" manipulative, comparing it to mafia tactics. "Love over loyalty forever," he declared. Amid his introspective posts, Bieber celebrated a major milestone for his wife, Hailey Bieber, whose skincare brand, Rhode, was acquired by e.l.f. Beauty—reportedly making her a billionaire. The couple, who married in 2018, welcomed their son, Jack Blues, in August 2024, with Justin occasionally sharing rare glimpses of their family life.
