PEN America has decided to cancel its annual Literary Award ceremony due to numerous authors withdrawing in protest over the organization's response to the conflict in Gaza.

Several authors have withdrawn from the PEN America literary awards due to the organization's response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, criticizing its perceived failure to support Palestinian writers and denounce actions in Gaza.

Erez Biton, a blind Hebrew poet born to Moroccan-Jewish parents, has made significant contributions to Israeli literature, particularly within the Mizrahi community, exploring themes of displacement and identity.