Several authors have publicly declined nominations and awards from PEN America, citing objections to the organization’s response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The literary and free expression nonprofit recently announced its long lists for several prestigious awards, including the $75,000 Jean Stein Award for best book and the $10,000 PEN/Hemingway Award for a first novel. However, some nominees have requested their names be removed in protest.

Among those withdrawing their names are Camonghne Felix, a nominee for the Jean Stein Award; poet Eugenia Leigh, a finalist; and Ghassan Zeineddine, nominated in the short story category. Felix, author of the memoir "Dyscalculia," explained on social media that her decision was made in solidarity with growing criticism of PEN America’s stance, particularly what she described as the organization's normalization and denial of genocide in the region.

PEN America acknowledged that about nine of the 60 nominated authors have requested removal from the awards list. The organization also confirmed that Esther Allen declined the PEN/Ralph Manheim Award for translation, and PEN said it would soon announce a replacement recipient. Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, who oversees PEN’s literary programming, affirmed the group’s respect for these decisions and expressed a commitment to celebrating the authors’ work through other means.

The controversy stems from PEN America’s response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties, including numerous writers, academics, and journalists. Critics claim PEN America has not sufficiently condemned the violence or taken concrete actions in support of Palestinian cultural figures and human rights.

In March, an open letter signed by prominent authors such as Naomi Klein and Lorrie Moore criticized PEN America for what they described as its failure to mobilize meaningful support for Palestinians and uphold its mission to combat hatred and promote peace. The letter contrasted PEN’s vocal opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with its comparatively muted stance on Gaza. It also highlighted the risks faced by Palestinian writers and intellectuals, accusing PEN of unwillingness to stand firmly with them against longstanding oppression.

In response, PEN officials noted the organization has issued multiple statements calling for a ceasefire and mourning the destruction inflicted on cultural institutions in Gaza. They also pointed to a $100,000 emergency fund established to assist Palestinian writers. PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel emphasized that the group approaches conflicts case-by-case, focusing on freedom of expression rather than aligning with political factions or states.

These disagreements have surfaced ahead of PEN’s upcoming spring events, including a literary awards ceremony scheduled for April 29 in Manhattan and a major fundraising gala in May at the American Museum of Natural History. Some signatories of the protest letter have announced plans to boycott the “World Voices” festival, an international literary gathering set for Los Angeles and New York next month.

In other news related to PEN America’s awards, playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner was named this year’s recipient of the PEN/Mike Nichols Writing for Performance Award. Kushner, who has publicly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, referred to the conflict as resembling ethnic cleansing in a recent interview. He argued that historical Jewish suffering should not justify the dehumanization or killing of others. Kushner also defended a recent Oscar acceptance speech that called attention to the dangers of dehumanization in the context of both the October 7 attacks in Israel and ongoing violence in Gaza, highlighting tensions within the arts community over the war.