In a new article for The Believer, writer Rayyan Al-Shawaf discusses two books that explore the predicament of the Palestinian writer caught between “Israel’s matrix of repression” as well as the “politico-centric view of life” embraced by resistance movements. One of those books is A Rebel in Gaza, by Asmaa al-Ghoul and Selim Nassib.

As he provides historical context of the rift between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas, as well as the subsequent repercussions on culture, Al-Shawaf praises Asmaa’s sustained literary efforts: “Al-Ghoul [makes] much of literature’s ability to subvert doctrinaire conceptual frameworks. […In so] doing, [she] enables Palestinian society to retain a measure of psychological health. Nothing could be more important, as the sad truth is that the occupation shows no sign of coming to an end.” Read the full review.

Asmaa al-Ghoul’s political commentary and journalism have reached international audiences and influenced her generation’s response to both Israel’s policies about Gaza and Islamist strongholds on society there.

We look forward to her next book!