Award-winning Palestinian author on Israeli prison, exile and homeland

Al JazeeraCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffOctober 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

Basim Khandakji, a 42-year-old Palestinian author, won the 2024 "Arabic Booker Prize" while imprisoned in Israel, facing retaliation that included solitary confinement for 12 days. After serving 21 years of three life sentences, he was released and deported to Egypt under a prisoner exchange agreement. Khandakji, who cannot return home to Nablus due to Israeli restrictions, describes harsh conditions in Israeli prisons, including systematic abuse, starvation, psychological and physical torture, and medical neglect. He was convicted in 2004 of involvement in a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, a charge he claims was forced upon him to spare younger men life sentences.

Key Topics & Entities

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 30% B'Tselem 30% United Nations 30% Tel Aviv 40% Egypt ×250% Nablus 60% Ofer Prison 70% Israeli prison ×480% Basim Khandakji ×6100%

Keywords

israeli prison conditions 100% exile and homeland 90% human rights abuse 90% psychological and physical torture 80% solitary confinement 80% palestinian author 80% medical neglect 70% forced confession 70% arabic booker prize 60% prisoner exchange agreement 60%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.70

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Ofer Prison

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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israeli prison conditions exile and homeland human rights abuse psychological and physical torture solitary confinement palestinian author medical neglect forced confession arabic booker prize prisoner exchange agreement

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