Overview

Since October 2023, Israel has carried out one of the most brutal military onslaughts in modern history on the Gaza Strip, in response to the Hamas-led attacks of October 7. But Gaza had long been in crisis even prior to the current violence, now widely recognized as genocidal. For seventy-seven years, the Palestinian people have endured displacement, occupation, collective punishment, and ethnic cleansing—with those in Gaza often bearing the brunt of it. With remarkable clarity and compassion, historian Anne Irfan tells the story of the Gaza Strip through six pivotal moments in its modern history, beginning with Israel’s expulsion of the Palestinian people upon its establishment in 1948, when Gaza absorbed more Palestinian refugees per head than anywhere else—a demographic shift that became central to its identity. As Irfan takes us through Israel’s occupations of Gaza, the Palestinian national struggle and formation of the PLO, the first intifada, the creation of the Palestinian Authority, and the rise of Hamas, she tackles widespread historical ignorance and untangles contradicting narratives. Drawing on a decade of research, Irfan weaves in the voices of everyday Palestinians, from farmers who became refugees in Gaza to poets and activists who grew up in the Strip. Featuring a foreword from Gazan writer and analyst Muhammad Shehada, A Short History of the Gaza Strip is an indispensable read for anyone seeking to understand Palestine and its impact on the world.

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9781324105954

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Reviews

""A timely and highly informative history of Gaza that is sure to dispel many of the misconceptions and misinformation circulating and currently widespread. It will remind readers of what was lost in the course of Israel’s aggression as well as recognizing Gaza’s resilience."" -- Raja Shehadeh, author of What Does Israel Fear from Palestine? ""In lean and unsparing prose, Anne Irfan exposes the history of occupation and oppression that explains the tragedy of Gaza from 1948 to the present day. A brilliant book that will inform debate and make clear to policymakers how Gaza’s future must in no way resemble its recent past."" -- Eugene Rogan, author of The Damascus Events ""In this stunning book, Dr. Anne Irfan contextualizes the violence unfolding in Gaza today without losing sight of the humanity of Palestinians. In documenting six critical historical junctures that fomented the occupation and ensuing violence, she describes a cruel dynamic that both corrupts the Israeli soul and ruins the Palestinian people. She describes the horrors of history with a nuanced kindness and reminds us that these events are not all that matter—because the Palestinian people that experienced them matter too. She beautifully weaves the narratives of Palestinians, like those of the Khalaf, Naffar, and Atwan families, into the tapestry of violence, giving space for their voices and humanity."" -- Nadya Hajj, author of Networked Refugees ""A beautifully written, erudite, humane, and essential guide to understanding the way the Israeli settler colonial project in and around Gaza has evolved into a brutal genocide."" -- Eyal Weizman, author of Hollow Land ""An incredible, informative, and powerful book. Anne Irfan tells us that you can’t understand the current destruction of Gaza without going back to the beginning and then does exactly that, in such a readable and devastating way."" -- Rachel Shabi, author of Off-White ""In this accessible, analytical narrative, Anne Irfan convincingly shows how the destruction of Gaza condenses the confrontation between Israel's longterm ambition to deport Gaza’s inhabitants—mostly descended from Nakba refugees from 1948—and Palestinians' determination to remain in their homeland. A Short History of the Gaza Strip provides an urgently needed historical contextualization of an ongoing genocidal campaign."" -- A. Dirk Moses, author of The Problems of Genocide

""A timely and highly informative history of Gaza that is sure to dispel many of the misconceptions and misinformation circulating and currently widespread. It will remind readers of what was lost in the course of Israel’s aggression as well as recognizing Gaza’s resilience."" -- Raja Shehadeh, author of What Does Israel Fear from Palestine? ""In this stunning book, Dr. Anne Irfan contextualizes the violence unfolding in Gaza today without losing sight of the humanity of Palestinians. In documenting six critical historical junctures that fomented the occupation and ensuing violence, she describes a cruel dynamic that both corrupts the Israeli soul and ruins the Palestinian people."" -- Nadya Hajj, author of Networked Refugees ""An incredible, informative, and powerful book. Anne Irfan tells us that you can’t understand the current destruction of Gaza without going back to the beginning and then does exactly that, in such a readable and devastating way."" -- Rachel Shabi, author of Off-White

""Readers seeking context to the awful headlines from the region should seek out this thought-provoking book. Robust research underpins this judicious record of Palestinian life."" -- Kirkus Reviews ""A timely and highly informative history of Gaza that is sure to dispel many of the misconceptions and misinformation circulating and currently widespread. It will remind readers of what was lost in the course of Israel’s aggression as well as recognizing Gaza’s resilience."" -- Raja Shehadeh, author of What Does Israel Fear from Palestine? ""In lean and unsparing prose, Anne Irfan exposes the history of occupation and oppression that explains the tragedy of Gaza from 1948 to the present day. A brilliant book that will inform debate and make clear to policymakers how Gaza’s future must in no way resemble its recent past."" -- Eugene Rogan, author of The Damascus Events ""In this stunning book, Dr. Anne Irfan contextualizes the violence unfolding in Gaza today without losing sight of the humanity of Palestinians. In documenting six critical historical junctures that fomented the occupation and ensuing violence, she describes a cruel dynamic that both corrupts the Israeli soul and ruins the Palestinian people."" -- Nadya Hajj, author of Networked Refugees ""A beautifully written, erudite, humane, and essential guide to understanding the way the Israeli settler colonial project in and around Gaza has evolved into a brutal genocide."" -- Eyal Weizman, author of Hollow Land ""An incredible, informative, and powerful book. Anne Irfan tells us that you can’t understand the current destruction of Gaza without going back to the beginning and then does exactly that, in such a readable and devastating way."" -- Rachel Shabi, author of Off-White ""In this accessible, analytical narrative, Anne Irfan convincingly shows how the destruction of Gaza condenses the confrontation between Israel's longterm ambition to deport Gaza’s inhabitants—mostly descended from Nakba refugees from 1948—and Palestinians' determination to remain in their homeland. A Short History of the Gaza Strip provides an urgently needed historical contextualization of an ongoing genocidal campaign."" -- A. Dirk Moses, author of The Problems of Genocide

""An excellent primer….[E]ssential reading for those hungry to know more about this ancient territory so as to better understand the current, desperate chapter in its history."" -- William Dalrymple - Guardian ""It's the stories of Palestinians…that flesh out this account and bring it alive. The restrained clarity of this work provides a much-needed perspective on this fraught and bloody moment in history."" -- Sydney Morning Herald ""Readers seeking context to the awful headlines from the region should seek out this thought-provoking book. Robust research underpins this judicious record of Palestinian life."" -- Kirkus Reviews ""A timely and highly informative history of Gaza that is sure to dispel many of the misconceptions and misinformation circulating and currently widespread. It will remind readers of what was lost in the course of Israel’s aggression as well as recognizing Gaza’s resilience."" -- Raja Shehadeh, author of What Does Israel Fear from Palestine? ""In lean and unsparing prose, Anne Irfan exposes the history of occupation and oppression that explains the tragedy of Gaza from 1948 to the present day. A brilliant book that will inform debate and make clear to policymakers how Gaza’s future must in no way resemble its recent past."" -- Eugene Rogan, author of The Damascus Events ""In this stunning book, Dr. Anne Irfan contextualizes the violence unfolding in Gaza today without losing sight of the humanity of Palestinians. In documenting six critical historical junctures that fomented the occupation and ensuing violence, she describes a cruel dynamic that both corrupts the Israeli soul and ruins the Palestinian people."" -- Nadya Hajj, author of Networked Refugees ""A beautifully written, erudite, humane, and essential guide to understanding the way the Israeli settler colonial project in and around Gaza has evolved into a brutal genocide."" -- Eyal Weizman, author of Hollow Land ""An incredible, informative, and powerful book. Anne Irfan tells us that you can’t understand the current destruction of Gaza without going back to the beginning and then does exactly that, in such a readable and devastating way."" -- Rachel Shabi, author of Off-White ""In this accessible, analytical narrative, Anne Irfan convincingly shows how the destruction of Gaza condenses the confrontation between Israel's longterm ambition to deport Gaza’s inhabitants—mostly descended from Nakba refugees from 1948—and Palestinians' determination to remain in their homeland. A Short History of the Gaza Strip provides an urgently needed historical contextualization of an ongoing genocidal campaign."" -- A. Dirk Moses, author of The Problems of Genocide

Author Information

Anne Irfan is lecturer in interdisciplinary race, gender, and postcolonial studies at University College London, focusing on Palestinian refugee rights. She is the author of Refuge and Resistance and has written for publications including The Washington Post, The Nation, and +972 Magazine. Muhammad Shehada is a political analyst, writer, and human-rights activist from Gaza, and a visiting fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations.

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