Gaza

Beautifully and thoughtfully written looking both at the everyday lives of those in Gaza and the wider factors at play. Very moving and even hopeful though the gentle optimism expressed in this book now seems even further away.

This book tells much, but from the Palestinian viewpoint. Everything seems to be the fault of Israel. Suicide bombings and terrorist attacks are portrayed as justified. Israel`s counter`attacks after fatal rocket attacks into Israel are routinely criticized. You can tell from the cover photo of the book what will be inside. It shows a lovely family of young children. Maybe for even handedness it should also show an armed Palestinian rock thrower. For those who want a balanced discussion of the mid East situation and certainly for those who support Israel, this book will be disappointing if not enraging.

You must read this. Honest, well researched factually accurate - I would commend this to anyone who wants to know what really has been happening in the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

I’ve just finished reading this 2017 political and social history of Gaza by Donald Macintyre. Such a tough but important read, I had my opinions about the conditions in Gaza, the role of Hamas and the reasons for the conflict there. But this helped me to broaden my understanding and bring to life the people, the places and the communities that make up the territory.I was looking for a balanced view of the conflict. Zionist supporters will, I’m sure, rush to point out that this isn’t that book. But Macintyre makes a powerful case and doesn’t point the figure only at successive Israeli governments but also at Fatah, Hamas and politicians across the western world. The victims, however, are clearly ordinary citizens who have lived horrific lives as the result of power battles elsewhere. They are the focus of this book.Events over the last few weeks seem to have destroyed what little hope was shared in the conclusion to this book and it’s heartbreaking to think about how many of the characters I’ve met in its pages will have been killed in recent days. But it’s essential to see the human side of this tragedy - on both sides - and not to just rush to stand behind one flag or another.Maybe a miracle will happen one day and the ordinary people of Israel and Palestine can emerge victorious over the extremists on both sides who keep them apart rather than living alongside each other peacefully and in mutual prosperity.One day.

The book arrived ahead of time in perfect condition. In terms of subject matter it provides a lucid and readable analysis of a very misunderstood part of the world from the perspective of the people who struggle to live there under an Israeli blockade supported by Egypt..