Nakba Day on May 15 marks the 1948 forced displacement of more than 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland. It remains an open wound in the region – one that continues to shape its politics and society across generations.
It has also served as a powerful catalyst for some of the most inspired Arabic literature of the past six decades, particularly by Palestinian authors. Many of these works are highlighted in The National’s list of the most important Arabic novels of the 20th and 21st centuries.
From narratives that delve into the psychological and existential wounds left by the Nakba, to stories of resilience and survival in the face of a persistent sense of exile, these novels offer an insight into how Palestinian writers have used literature both to confront the pain of the past and to carry the Palestinian cause forward for new generations.
Here are six books to read.
1. Men in the Sun (1963) by Ghassan Kanafani
In his searing masterpiece, Ghassan Kanafani offers a piercing glimpse into the aching dislocation caused by the Nakba. The novel follows three Palestinian men on an arduous journey from Iraq to Kuwait in search of work during the oil boom of the 1960s. Their trek becomes a subtle allegory for the complacency of Palestinian and regional political figures in the aftermath of the Nakba, and how the failure of the ruling class contributed to the despair surrounding the Palestinian right of return. More than 60 years since its publication, Men in the Sun remains a landmark of Arabic fiction, with one of the most haunting and talked-about endings in modern Arab literature.
2. In Search of Walid Masoud (1978) by Jabra Ibrahim Jabra
Equal parts biography and treatise, In Search of Walid Masoud examines the psychological and existential wounds caused by the Nakba. The plot centres on the disappearance of the titular character – a Palestinian intellectual and political activist uprooted to Baghdad after the 1948 tragedy. Woven through snippets of testimony from family, friends and colleagues, the book offers an understanding of who Walid Masoud is, and how his personal struggles are rooted in a deeper search for identity.
The fact that readers never get a complete picture of him alludes to the ongoing sense of dislocation that comes from being forced to leave one’s home.
3. The Fools of Bethlehem (2015) by Osama Alaysa
A psychiatric ward in a Bethlehem hospital is home to a group of patients whose stories – from the tragic to the absurd – reflect the fractured reality of a divided city. Their experiences point to the fraying mental health brought on by the Nakba and the continued failure of political leaders to address its legacy. In a 2015 interview with The National, Alaysa described the novel as an attempt to expand society’s understanding of madness. “It’s not just about people who are suffering from a condition, but also a sickness when it comes to intellectual thought,” he said.
4. Destinies: Concerto of the Holocaust and the Nakba (2016) by Rabai Al-Madhoun
A triumph of dazzling technique, Destinies is composed in four parts, each representing a concerto movement. The structure allows Al-Madhoun to tackle a pair of intertwining stories – the Holocaust and the Nakba, each a source of trauma for Jews and Palestinians respectively. Through the daily struggles of Palestinians in exile and those forced to assume Israeli citizenship, the novel explores how trauma shapes everyday life and how the politics of victimhood shift over time.
5. Velvet (2016) by Huzama Habayeb
This is a novel rooted in the displacement caused by the Nakba and shaped by characters descended from its early refugees. At the Baqaa camp in Jordan, Hawa finds purpose in tailoring after being mentored by the widowed Qamar. Through their shared work with velvet fabric, the two women exchange hopes and dreams in a setting that has long stifled such ambitions for the generations before them.
6. A Mask, the Colour of the Sky (2024) by Basim Khandaqji
The winner of the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction, this book follows the story of Nur, a Palestinian archaeologist and the son of displaced families, who grew up in a refugee camp in Ramallah. After discovering an Israeli identity card in an abandoned coat, he assumes the identity of its owner and gains a glimpse of life beyond the barrier. In doing so, he reflects on the long-term effects of the Nakba on displaced families and the urgent need to preserve Palestinian heritage in a society intent on erasing its presence.
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1 The Jockey Club Local Handicap (TB) 1,800m (Dirt) $500,000
2 The Riyadh Dirt Sprint (TB) 1,200m (D) $1.500,000
3 The 1351 Turf Sprint 1,351m (Turf) $1,000,000
4 The Saudi Derby (TB) 1600m (D) $800,000
5 The Neom Turf Cup (TB) 2,100m (T) $1,000,000
6 The Obaiya Arabian Classic (PB) 2,000m (D) $1,900,000
7 The Red Sea Turf Handicap (TB) 3,000m (T) $2,500,000
8 The Saudi Cup (TB) 1,800m (D) $20,000,000
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Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
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Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20(2022)
Stage 2 results
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 04:18:18
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:02
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:04
4 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates
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General Classification
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 07:47:19
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:12
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:16
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4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
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Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
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Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
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Defence review at a glance
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Bayern Munich 0 AC Milan 4
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
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- 600-seat auditorium
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Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
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Welterweight
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Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
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Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
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Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
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Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
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Catchweight 69kg
Jung Han-gook (KOR) beat Max Lima (BRA)
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Featherweight title (5 rounds)
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Lightweight title (5 rounds)
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Explained
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Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
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Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
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Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
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A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
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Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
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The specs
The specs
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
