A Short History of the Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip is one of the most widely-reported on regions in the world--yet misinformation about its history and its people abound. In this vital book, historian Anne Irfan explains Gaza’s outsized political significance through six pivotal moments in its modern history, beginning with Israel’s expulsion of the Palestinian people upon its establishment in 1948, when the Gaza region was truncated to the “strip” we know today. As she takes us through Israel’s occupation 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 and teachers to poets and activists. Written with remarkable clarity and compassion, A Short History of the Gaza Strip is an indispensable read for anyone seeking to understand Palestine today.

Report

'A wonderfully informative account of the complexities of the situation. Beginning in 1948, she guides us through these tangled events with great clarity, drawing on a vast array of sources. The text is nuanced, humane and critical at a time when too many assumptions and untruths are floating around' BBC History Magazine, Books of the Year

Product details

• Authors: Anne Irfan
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 28.08.2025
• EAN: 9781398552906
• ISBN: 978-1-398-55290-6
• No. of pages: 272
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; History, Human Rights, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, HISTORY / Africa / North, HISTORY / Middle East / Israel & Palestine, 21st century history: from c 2000 -, Colonialism & imperialism, Revolutions, uprisings, rebellions, Middle Eastern history, Colonialism and imperialism, Land Rights, Human rights, civil rights, Genocide & ethnic cleansing, Genocide and ethnic cleansing, Armed Conflict, Invasion, conquest and occupation, HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century / General, HISTORY / Revolutions, Uprisings & Rebellions, HISTORY / Indigenous / Migration