For the past 21 years, Palestinian author Basim Khandaqji has been a symbol of resistance, writing award-winning novels from an Israeli jail cell.
Convicted of terrorism for allegedly helping plan a bombing that resulted in the killing of three people in Tel Aviv, and sentenced to serve three life sentences, Basim has been imprisoned since 2004. Those years have been prolific, however: he has written several novels and poetry collections and won the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his 2023 novel A Mask, the Colour of the Sky, which triumphed over 133 other submitted titles.
"This is a pride for Basim and for our family that he won the most prestigious international prize [in Arabic fiction]. This victory was a tribute to the souls of the martyrs, our Palestinian people in Gaza," Yousef Khandaqji, Basim's brother and literary agent, tells The National.
The book won the $50,000 prize at a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi in April last year, and also qualified for funding for an English-language translation. Currently, two of the three volumes of the trilogy have been published by Lebanon's Dar Al Adab, with the third in progress.
"This victory is also a huge moral boost for Basim, as a prisoner in the occupation's prisons, it pushes him to produce high-quality literary texts. We were taking his literary works out of prison, which was very complicated," he adds.
Basim has endured many difficulties as a prisoner over the years. But the attention his most recent book received resulted in particularly harsh treatment, according to Yousef.
"When the novel was shortlisted, the occupation forces did not appreciate that. They decided to punish Basim by placing him in solitary confinement and making him pay a fine of around $2000. He also endured a fierce incitement campaign from Israeli press. He was in solitary for a month and investigated and also fined when he won the prize. But Basim is used to these things as a prisoner for the last 21 years," Mr Khandaqji says.
Despite the challenges he faces, Basim's dream is to continue writing and representing the Palestinian experience in his novels. "Basim was able to handle these things and with his patience and resilience, he was able to face these grievances. What’s important is that his words leave the prison cells ... and indeed they did," Yousef adds.
During the Israel-Gaza War, visits for prisoners from immediate family were halted - even Basim's lawyer was only able to see him after a seven-month wait. As for Yousef, the last time he had seen his brother up close was in 2019.
"The last time I saw him, I felt it would be the last. I had a horrible feeling and unfortunately, that is what happened. It was the last visit. But it was one of the most beautiful visits too. We talked about his literary plans," he says.
He always used to tell me 'I’ll see you again', but the sentence that stood out to me the last time I saw him was, 'Take care of my children well.' His children are his books and novels, he told me that and I understood.
Yousef Khandaqji
As Basim's agent, Yousef has been looking after the publishing and promotion of his brother's books, which has been a challenge. "God helped me take care of his children well and provide them with great attention, and hopefully, when he comes home, he will continue, because it is hard to talk about these novels when the author is absent," Yousef says.
While he has gained international attention for the work he has produced while imprisoned, Yousef believes his brother would still be driven to produce powerful literary works if he were free, given that he wrote long before he was imprisoned. But Yousef does believe that detention has inspired Basim to produce literary works of this calibre.
"If you asked me if Basim would produce this kind of work if he wasn’t detained, I would say yes, because Basim comes from a progressive family that owns a library in Nablus, and he was a young reader of big novels," he says. He fondly recalls how a Palestinian poet met Basim when he was 12 years old, and was surprised by his knowledge of books. At the time, the poet predicted that Basim would have a great future in writing.
"Truly that’s what Basim reached because of the support from God, our family, and readers," he says. "I thank the people that come and watch the seminars on Basim’s work and support him, I always say that Basim shall be present between us soon. He will be released free, happy and victorious, God willing."
Yousef Khandaqji was a guest at this year's Emirates Festival of Literature, which concluded on Sunday, where he was warmly welcomed by the UAE's literary community. "I found great engagement and it is a great honour for us as a family, watching how people react to the novel," Mr Khandaqji says.
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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RESULTS
Mumbai Indians 181-4 (20 ovs)
Kolkata Knight Riders 168-6 (20ovs)
Mumbai won by 13 runs
Rajasthan Royals 152-9 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 155-4 (18.4 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab won by 6 wickets
RACE CARD
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
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Amith's selections:
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5.30pm: Dahawi
6pm: Taajer
6.30pm: Pharitz Oubai
7pm: Winked
7.30pm: Shahm
8pm: Raniah
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Scoreline
Saudi Arabia 1-0 Japan
Saudi Arabia Al Muwallad 63’
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
Sri Lanka squad for tri-nation series
Angelo Mathews (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanidu Hasaranga
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
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