Benedict Cumberbatch recites Mahmoud Darwish

Together for Palestine – the event which raised almost £2m in September for organisations working in the Gaza genocide – featured an array of heartbreaking, deeply human performances, but this from Benedict Cumberbatch was for me the most poignant.

A hush descended on the audience as Cumberbatch drew breath to speak the words in all our hearts. His voice proud and full of purpose but vulnerable and searching, barely holding back the tears. Cumberbatch evoked the spirit of the late Mahmoud Darwish, a literary legend and the national poet of Palestine.

Mahmoud Darwish (1941–2008) is the celebrated Palestinian national poet, whose work transcends borders to speak of exile, identity, and longing with profound lyrical beauty. Born in al-Birwa, Galilee, Darwish became a refugee during the 1948 Nakba, an experience that deeply shaped his poetry. His early works, such as Identity Card, boldly asserted Palestinian presence and resistance, evolving into a sophisticated, universal style that intertwined personal and collective memory with myth and history.

Darwish’s literary genius lies in his ability to transform political struggle into art that is both aesthetically rich and emotionally resonant. His poems—often described as “resistance art”—capture the Palestinian narrative of dispossession while embracing broader human themes of freedom, love, and loss. Through volumes like Unfortunately, It Was Paradise and Mural, he crafted a language of defiance and hope, earning international acclaim and awards such as the Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize and the Lenin Peace Prize.

Beyond his literary contributions, Darwish served as a voice of moral clarity and resilience, authoring the Palestinian Declaration of Independence and inspiring generations through his unwavering commitment to justice and peace. His work remains a testament to the power of poetry to illuminate truth and sustain the spirit in the face of oppression.

Together for Palestine is an event which aims to raise millions for the Palestinian-led organisations at the frontline of the crisis, such as Taawon, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and the Palestine Medical Relief Society. 100% of donations made to Choose Love will support the Together For Palestine Fund and every penny goes to Palestinian organisations operating on the ground in Gaza.

“She was known as Palestine. She forevermore will be known as Palestine.”

Together for Palestine.