The Keffiyeh Blog

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Set against the backdrop of the 1948 Nakba, Mornings in Jenin follows the Abulheja family through generations of displacement, war, and survival. Beginning in the village of Ein Hod and continuing through life in the Jenin refugee camp, the novel paints a vivid portrait of Palestinian resilience. Through deeply emotional storytelling, the novel explores themes of loss, exile, and the enduring power of family and memory.

What makes this book stand out is its ability to humanize the Palestinian experience. Through the life of Amal, the story’s protagonist, readers witness the emotional toll of statelessness, military violence, and intergenerational trauma. Abulhawa’s lyrical prose offers a Palestinian perspective that is rarely found in mainstream Western literature, allowing readers to connect with the conflict on a deeply personal level.

More than a novel, this book serves as a gateway to understanding. It has found a place in classrooms, book clubs, and activist circles, offering insight into the personal costs of occupation. By weaving history with fiction, Abulhawa has given readers around the world a lasting and powerful lens through which to view Palestinian life.

Men in the Sun is a foundational work in Palestinian literature, written by revered author and resistance figure Ghassan Kanafani. The novella tells the story of three Palestinian refugees who try to cross into Kuwait to find work, hiding in the back of a water tanker. The journey becomes a powerful metaphor for displacement, silence, and the desperation felt by those left without a homeland.

Kanafani’s writing is sharp, minimalist, and emotionally devastating. He doesn’t rely on graphic violence or dramatic events — instead, he builds tension through quiet suffering and internal conflict. The tragic ending, where the men die in silence, serves as a haunting critique of both Arab governments and the international community’s indifference toward the Palestinian plight.

More than a piece of fiction, this novella is often seen as a political statement. Kanafani, who was assassinated by Mossad in 1972, used literature as a tool for resistance and awareness. His work remains widely studied and quoted across the Arab world. For many, Men in the Sun is not just a story — it’s a symbol of how Palestinians carry trauma, often with no one listening.

Written by legendary scholar Edward Said, The Question of Palestine is a cornerstone text for understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a post-colonial perspective. Said unpacks the roots of Zionism, the erasure of Palestinian identity, and the role of Western media in shaping biased narratives. He critiques how imperialism, power structures, and Orientalism continue to frame the conflict in ways that marginalize the Palestinian voice.

But this is not just a critique — Said also outlines a vision for justice, coexistence, and political equality. He calls for a solution rooted in dignity, human rights, and recognition of Palestinian nationhood. His arguments are bolstered by a deep knowledge of history, literature, and global anti-colonial struggles, making the book both intellectually rigorous and morally urgent.

What makes Said’s work so enduring is that it is also deeply personal. As a Palestinian in exile, his writing is infused with emotion, clarity, and a sense of profound loss. The Question of Palestine is essential reading for activists, academics, and anyone who seeks to understand the politics of occupation and the fight for Palestinian liberation.

I Saw Ramallah is a deeply moving memoir by Mourid Barghouti, one of Palestine’s most celebrated poets. After thirty years of exile, Barghouti finally returns to Ramallah, his hometown in the occupied West Bank. What follows is a reflective journey through memory, displacement, and the emotional contradictions of coming home to a place that no longer feels like home.

Barghouti writes with the grace of a poet and the clarity of someone who has endured decades of statelessness. His reflections are not only personal but also political — describing Israeli checkpoints, divided families, and the erasure of Palestinian presence. Through elegant, introspective prose, he brings to life what it means to be denied a homeland, yet constantly drawn to it.

This book isn’t loud or angry — it’s quietly heartbreaking. Its strength lies in its emotional intimacy and its ability to turn everyday scenes into profound meditations on loss, belonging, and identity. I Saw Ramallah is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the soul of exile and the deep emotional cost of occupation.

Historian Rashid Khalidi’s The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine reframes the conflict not as a series of disconnected battles, but as a century-long colonial war against the Palestinian people. Drawing on British archives, Israeli records, and his own family history, Khalidi presents a thoroughly documented narrative of dispossession, resistance, and global complicity.

What sets this book apart is its structured approach. Khalidi breaks the century into six major episodes, from the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to the Trump administration’s "deal of the century." Each chapter shows how foreign powers and Zionist forces systematically undermined Palestinian self-determination, while also highlighting acts of resistance and political mobilization.

Khalidi’s perspective is both academic and deeply personal. As a member of a prominent Palestinian family and a scholar, he brings credibility, passion, and clarity to an issue often distorted in the media. The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine is not just a history book — it’s a call to understand the past so that we can shape a more just future.

Gaza Writes Back is a short story collection written by young Palestinians living in Gaza, many of whom experienced the 2008–2009 Israeli assault firsthand. Compiled and edited by Refaat Alareer, the stories reflect the trauma, resilience, and hope of a new generation writing in the midst of siege and violence.

What makes this collection so powerful is its authenticity. These are not professional writers in ivory towers — they are students, daughters, sons, and survivors. Their stories explore grief, love, resistance, and even humor, offering glimpses of life under blockade that defy media stereotypes.

By allowing Palestinians to tell their own stories, Gaza Writes Back functions as an act of literary resistance. It asserts that Gaza is not just a conflict zone — it’s a place full of human beings, dreams, and voices that refuse to be silenced. This book is ideal for readers who want firsthand accounts of life in Gaza, straight from the people who live it.

In Search of Fatima is a poignant memoir by Ghada Karmi, a Palestinian doctor and writer who was forced to flee her home in Jerusalem during the 1948 Nakba. The book traces her life from exile in the United Kingdom to her quest for identity as both a refugee and an outsider in British society. Her memories of childhood, family, and longing for her lost homeland are deeply affecting.

Karmi’s writing blends personal reflection with sharp political commentary. She unpacks what it means to be Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian in a world that often misunderstands or ignores those identities. Her experiences of racism, assimilation, and the disconnection of exile will resonate with anyone navigating multiple cultures.

What makes this memoir stand out is its honesty. Karmi doesn't shy away from vulnerability — she shares her emotional contradictions, her confusion, and her evolving understanding of what it means to be Palestinian in exile. In Search of Fatima is more than a memoir; it’s a personal history of Palestinian displacement and the search for belonging.

We Are Not Numbers is a growing movement and anthology platform featuring young writers in Gaza who share their lived experiences through essays, poems, and short stories. The title itself is a defiant statement — a rejection of the dehumanizing way Palestinians are often portrayed in media and politics.

The contributors write about daily life under siege, family, loss, and dreams for the future. Some stories describe moments of joy and humor despite hardship, while others address trauma, martyrdom, and the pain of separation. The writing is raw, unfiltered, and deeply moving, offering a window into Gaza’s humanity that rarely reaches international audiences.

We Are Not Numbers is more than a book — it’s a community project, a literary lifeline, and a resistance archive. It empowers youth to reclaim their narratives and speak for themselves. Every story is a reminder that behind every statistic is a full, complex life — one that deserves to be seen, heard, and remembered.

Palestine is a groundbreaking graphic novel that brings journalism to life. Based on Joe Sacco’s visits to the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the early 1990s, the book captures the voices of Palestinian civilians living under Israeli occupation. Through detailed interviews and vivid illustrations, Sacco highlights the impact of checkpoints, home demolitions, arbitrary arrests, and military rule on daily life.

What makes this work unique is its format — the use of comics journalism allows readers to visualize the conflict in an emotionally powerful way. Sacco inserts himself into the narrative as a Western observer, challenging assumptions about objectivity and the limitations of mainstream reporting. His sketches are raw, expressive, and deeply human, turning statistics and headlines into faces and stories.

Palestine is more than a book; it’s a visceral experience. It invites readers to go beyond passive consumption and confront the realities of occupation in graphic, uncompromising detail. Widely regarded as a masterpiece of political comics, it continues to be a go-to resource for those looking to better understand the lived experiences of Palestinians.