Abeer was born and raised in Al-Shati (Beach) refugee camp in northern Gaza, where her culinary journey began amidst the humble surroundings of her childhood home. Despite attending a small, modest school, Abeer's passion for cooking flourished. As a young woman, she moved to Jerusalem to further her education, including attending a cooking school where she honed her skills and laid the foundation for her future as a talented home cook.

In her mid-30s, Abeer returned to Gaza, bringing with her a wealth of cooking knowledge and a dream of sharing her passion with her community. Life in Gaza presented new challenges as she raised seven children while resources were often limited. However, Abeer's love for cooking never waned. Instead, it adapted and flourished as she learned to create delicious, nourishing meals with whatever ingredients were available, transforming simple staples into dishes that comforted and delighted her family.

A biT MORE ABOUT HER CHILDHOOD

As her children grew, Abeer began to see her cooking as more than just a way to feed her family. It became a means of preserving and celebrating Palestinian culture. She started sharing her recipes on Instagram in Arabic, connecting with others who shared her passion for traditional Palestinian cuisine. In February 2024, faced with escalating events in Gaza, Abeer made the heart-wrenching decision to leave her beloved homeland for safety in Egypt. It was in this moment of displacement that she found a new purpose for her cooking skills.

Recognizing that the heritage of Palestine was under threat, Abeer decided to write a cookbook in English, aiming to share the flavors and stories of Gaza with the world. Her cookbook, "Gaza's Unbreakable Table: Home Cooking and Stories from the Heart of Gaza," is more than just a collection of recipes. It's a culinary memoir, a preservation of culture, and a testament to the resilience of the Palestinian people. Each recipe tells a story – of family gatherings, of resourcefulness in times of scarcity, of traditions maintained despite displacement. Through her recipes, Abeer not only feeds bodies but also nourishes the collective memory of her people, proving that even in the face of unimaginable challenges, the spirit of a people can remain unbroken.