February 4, 2024 – Al Jazeera Net / Dr. Suleiman Saleh, Professor of Media Studies at Cairo University and Member of Parliament for the Revolution Bloc
When the nation’s writers unleash their imagination, they can discover new sources of strength for the nation, leading intellectual revolutions that generate new ideas, enhancing people's ability to utilize historical experiences to build the future. This is a new theory I have been developing to form the foundation for a new phase of struggle against colonialism and tyranny, and to liberate Palestine from Zionist occupation.
In my quest to validate this theory, I examined numerous literary works by authors and poets that inspire peoples and provide new avenues to express the emotions of freedom fighters, humanizing the extended struggle against oppression and tyranny.
This journey brought me to the experience of the Palestinian prisoners' movement in Israeli prisons. Many of its heroes have provided humanity with real-life examples of courage, sacrifice, resilience, and determination, illuminating the path of resistance throughout history.
In the prisons, Khalil, the protagonist of this narrative, found schools and universities. Illiterate inmates quickly learned to read and write, becoming intellectuals passionate about reading, while educated prisoners expanded their studies, learning languages, memorizing the Qur’an, and delving into various sciences and research fields.
Among the most significant examples supporting my theory is the novel The Lover from Jenin, written by Palestinian author Raafat Hamdouna while imprisoned in Nafha prison.
This novel illustrates how Palestinian prisoners’ cultural and intellectual heritage can serve as a source of strength for the Islamic nation. The story focuses on Khalil, a young man arrested after a heroic resistance operation, subjected to months of torture without breaking his spirit, and ultimately sentenced to seven years in prison alongside his friend Mahmoud by an unjust military court.
Khalil’s experience in prison includes participating in hunger strikes and engaging with the prisoners' movement's democratic traditions. Elections within the prison created representative leadership for each faction, with experienced and capable individuals chosen to serve on the general national committee. This committee worked to build prisoners' character, maintain their dignity, and enrich their knowledge and experiences.
Prisons became hubs of education where illiterate prisoners learned to read and write, and those already educated deepened their studies in languages, Islamic studies, literature, history, and other disciplines. Discussions and debates about politics, Palestinian issues, Arab and Islamic concerns, and international developments were common in prison courtyards and cells.
Khalil took pride in being part of a group of sincere and honorable individuals who had sacrificed their youth and lives for their faith and cause. These individuals bore immense burdens without complaint, maintaining hope for a brighter future.
Raafat Hamdouna, through Khalil's voice, highlights the extraordinary resilience of Palestinian prisoners, many of whom face life sentences and have spent over two decades in prison. Despite enduring immense hardship, they have often been neglected by the national movements tasked with working for their release. Many of these prisoners have lived through multiple prisoner exchanges and negotiations, often left behind due to the high sentences they received or their political affiliations.
The current resistance efforts underscore the importance of freeing Palestinian prisoners. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu staunchly opposes their release, fearing they could emerge as new leaders like Yahya Sinwar. Netanyahu recognizes that these prisoners include strategic minds capable of leading the Palestinian national struggle and uniting the resistance through the democratic models they have created within the prisons.
These individuals, shaped by decades of imprisonment, offer a unique blend of sacrifice, resilience, and unwavering commitment to their principles. They represent a significant threat to the occupation’s efforts to suppress the Palestinian resistance.
Raafat Hamdouna uses symbolism to emphasize the continuity of Palestinian resistance. Khalil's grandfather was inspired by the struggle against British colonialism and the sermons of Sheikh Izz al-Din al-Qassam in Haifa. After Sheikh al-Qassam's martyrdom, the grandfather joined the 1936-1939 Palestinian Revolt.
The grandfather's stories and sacrifices profoundly influenced Khalil and his friend Mahmoud, shaping their cultural and political consciousness. Before Khalil joined the resistance, his grandfather gave him a rifle, symbolizing his legacy of resistance, along with the Qur’an, emphasizing that faith and resistance must go hand in hand.
Khalil’s personal life intertwines with his resistance. After his imprisonment, his fiancée, Layla, initially stayed by his side but eventually chose to leave, seeking a different life. Khalil, embodying the magnanimity of a true hero, granted her freedom without resentment.
Later, Khalil found a partner in Mahmoud’s sister, who shared his ideals and became his steadfast supporter. Together, they carried the torch of resistance, embodying the sacrifices and hopes of their people.
Through the lens of Khalil’s story, The Lover from Jenin sheds light on the lives, struggles, and hopes of Palestinian prisoners. Raafat Hamdouna masterfully illustrates the enduring spirit of resistance, weaving together themes of love, sacrifice, and the unyielding pursuit of liberation. These prisoners represent the embodiment of resilience and leadership, inspiring future generations to continue the struggle for freedom and justice.
The Rifle and the Quran
The role of Khalil the grandfather was evident in raising his grandson Khalil and preparing him for jihad. He instilled in his heart a love for the homeland and a yearning for return, recounting the tragedies that befell the Palestinian people. Life was harsh and challenging, yet despite all the defeats experienced by the nation, he never lost hope.
Khalil the grandson, along with his friend Mahmoud, was deeply influenced by the stories of his grandfather, which played a significant role in shaping his cultural awareness. When Khalil grew up, he decided to join the resistance. The grandfather gave him a rifle, a symbol of his bravery, but said to him before he left: "This rifle is not enough; it remains incomplete without the Quran." He handed him the Quran, which outlined the principles of jihad and the future of the nation.
The Love Stories of Heroes
Khalil the grandson proposed to Layla, whom he loved passionately. After his arrest and sentencing to prison, he offered her the chance to separate from him, but she insisted on staying by his side. He then asked his family to ensure all her needs were met. However, Layla began working as a secretary for the director of an institution, which eventually led her to change her course. She left him and requested separation. Khalil dealt with her departure with the magnanimity befitting a hero, giving up all his rights to her despite his sorrow. Although his family insisted on reclaiming the dowry and gifts, he said, "What are these things worth compared to my great loss?"
But God blessed him with a wife, the sister of his friend Mahmoud, who shared with him the struggles of imprisonment, resistance, and fighting for freedom. Their heroism was exemplified in their defense of the Jenin refugee camp when it was besieged by the Israeli occupation forces. During this battle, Mahmoud was martyred after promising Khalil that they would meet at the Prophet’s fountain. Khalil, meanwhile, embarked on a new phase of resistance after witnessing his grandfather teaching his children and drawing a map of their homeland. His grandfather would say, "This is Haifa, and here is the key to our house there. These documents prove our ownership of tens of dunums of its fields and orchards. They will only return with the Quran and the bullet."
Khalil walked toward the door, saying, "We are still at the beginning of the road, Grandpa. Jerusalem remains occupied." His grandfather added, "And also Ashkelon, Jaffa, and Haifa. This is a Quranic inevitability. If we are not its soldiers, your children will continue the struggle." Khalil smiled at his grandfather and said, "We will never forget your teachings, Grandpa." Then he shouldered his weapon and left.
Through these symbols, Ra’fat Hamdouna wove the story of Lover from Jenin, encapsulating the lives and resilience of resistance heroes.