Naîm, who is around 60 years old, is the owner of a copy shop that produces posters of martyrs. When he is killed by a blind bullet in 2011, a debate arises between his son Salmân and his nephew Nasr as to whether Naîm is a hero or a victim - a fundamental debate that runs through the entire book.
Later, there were violent clashes between the population of the camp and the Gaza administration over the development of the hill on which, among other things, Naîm's house stands. These clashes show society's attempt to defend itself against the growing power clique, which is not afraid to use religion in its service through more or less violence.

The novel is an interesting and impressive “document” of the Palestine “problem” from the particular perspective of the Gaza Strip.

This novel was published in 2014. So it has no direct connection with the events in Gasa and elsewhere in Palestine/Israel since the beginning of October 2023. In the context of a kind of family novel, the emerging structures are shown, welcomed by some, endured by others, fought by others. The author doesn't spare either side: the naive followers are criticized just as much as the profiteers or the resisters. The relentless, unstoppable establishment of the new power apparatus is shown.

Atef Abu Saif

Translated from Arabic by Hartmut Fähndrich