The West Bank city of Ramallah is expected to come to a standstill for the funeral of poet and author Mahmoud Darwish who has died at the age of 67.
The West Bank city of Ramallah is expected to come to a standstill for the funeral of poet and author Mahmoud Darwish who has died at the age of 67.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians are due to attend commemorations for one of the most influential cultural figures in recent Arab history.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians are due to attend commemorations for one of the most influential cultural figures in recent Arab history.
It is due to be the biggest funeral in the West Bank since that of Yasser Arafat in 2004.
It is due to be the biggest funeral in the West Bank since that of Yasser Arafat in 2004.
Darwish was instrumental in forging a sense of Palestinian national identity.
Darwish was instrumental in forging a sense of Palestinian national identity.
People of all backgrounds in the West Bank feel they had a personal connection to the poet and take pride in a man who told their story in a way they could not, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool reports from Ramallah.
People of all backgrounds in the West Bank feel they had a personal connection to the poet and take pride in a man who told their story in a way they could not, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool reports from Ramallah.
The poet's body is being flown back from the US to Jordan, from where it will be taken by helicopter to Ramallah, the AFP news agency reports.
The poet's body is being flown back from the US to Jordan, from where it will be taken by helicopter to Ramallah, the AFP news agency reports.
Enduring work
Enduring work
Darwish died after open-heart surgery in Houston, Texas, on Saturday.
Darwish died after open-heart surgery in Houston, Texas, on Saturday.
Darwish won many international prizes for his work
Darwish won many international prizes for his work
He was a national icon, whose work was often based on his experiences of life in exile and under occupation.
He was a national icon, whose work was often based on his experiences of life in exile and under occupation.
"He symbolises the Palestinian memory," one Palestinian mourner told the BBC.
"He symbolises the Palestinian memory," one Palestinian mourner told the BBC.
"He intended to convey a message: in the end we are all human beings and we have to work collectively for the sake of humanity."
"He intended to convey a message: in the end we are all human beings and we have to work collectively for the sake of humanity."
Thousands would flock to his recitals. His poems were transformed into popular songs and used in political speeches, and the words he wrote now form part of Palestinian daily life, our correspondent says.
Thousands would flock to his recitals. His poems were transformed into popular songs and used in political speeches, and the words he wrote now form part of Palestinian daily life, our correspondent says.
Nor was he shy of talking of his people's shortcomings.
Nor was he shy of talking of his people's shortcomings.
He had written fierce criticism of the divisions among Palestinians, believing, in some ways, what they were doing to themselves was worse than anything others had done to them.
He had written fierce criticism of the divisions among Palestinians, believing, in some ways, what they were doing to themselves was worse than anything others had done to them.
He also penned the famous speech Arafat delivered at the United Nations in 1974: "Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom-fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."
He also penned the famous speech Arafat delivered at the United Nations in 1974: "Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom-fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."
There is little doubt his work, not just on the Palestinian cause, but on love and hope and death, will endure across the Arab world, our correspondent says.
There is little doubt his work, not just on the Palestinian cause, but on love and hope and death, will endure across the Arab world, our correspondent says.
How will you remember Mahmoud Darwish? Will you attend a commemoration service?
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