Islamic History and Literature

The Palestinian issue witnessed a significant, near-radical transformation following the October 7th, 2023 attack, which constituted a turning point in the course of the issue, resulting in an unprecedented escalation in violence and tensions and causing a wide rift in international positions. The Palestinian issue thereby regained its place on the agenda of global political concerns. These events led to a renewed interest in Ghassan Kanafani's novel “Returning to Haifa”, a revival that calls for an immanent cultural reading - one that seeks a deep understanding of the historical experience. This experience establishes a continuous vision untethered to a specific moment in time and deepens awareness of the essence of the ongoing conflict addressed in the novel, including the right of return, the encroachment of the occupation and the conflict of narratives that fuels the dispute and distances itself from conflict-resolution mechanisms.