Smith’s framing runs into the same blind spot in other criticisms levelled at student protests, i.e. it detaches the student’s cause from the activists, academics, and journalists, Palestinian or otherwise, who have been documenting Israel’s settler colonial project for 75 years.

To the politicians and their vetoes and dismissals of any proposals that might bring some change—what language do you use with them? What of their language that otherises an entire people to dehumanise them?

As these accomplished authors join hands for the #BooksForGaza initiative, the auction’s mission statement outlines a powerful commitment undertaken by luminaries of the literary world.