For 21 years, Basem Khandakji lived within the confines of Israeli prisons, a period defined by isolation, military trials, and a relentless struggle to maintain his humanity. Yet, from the depths of incarceration, Khandakji achieved a feat of global recognition: winning the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his novel, A Mask the Color of the Sky. His journey from a 21-year-old political prisoner to an award-winning intellectual serves as a profound testament to the role of literature as an act of resistance.
- Literary Achievement: Basem Khandakji won the prestigious 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction while still imprisoned.
- Incarceration: Arrested in 2004 at age 21, Khandakji spent over two decades in prison before his release in 2025.
- Writing as Resistance: Khandakji smuggled his manuscripts out of prison through clandestine methods, including having other prisoners swallow the papers.
- Current Status: Following his release, Khandakji was exiled to Cairo, Egypt, where he continues to advocate for the rights of Palestinian prisoners.
From Nablus to Incarceration: The Early Years
Born in 1983 in Nablus, Basem Khandakji’s life took a definitive turn during his time as a journalism student at Najah University. Amidst the violence of the Second Intifada, Khandakji felt compelled to act. Initially a member of the Palestinian Communist Party, he eventually joined a military cell associated with the Palestinian public front to fight Israeli forces.
In 2004, at the age of 21, Khandakji was arrested for his political activities. His entry into the prison system marked the beginning of a 21-year odyssey that he describes not merely as a loss of freedom, but as a war against the dehumanization of the Palestinian people.
The Legal Battle and Military Courts
Khandakji’s experience with the Israeli judicial system highlights a stark divide in legal treatment. He notes that Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem are tried in military courts—a system established after 1967—rather than in civil or criminal courts.
During his trial, Khandakji refused to recognize the legitimacy of the military court, asserting that his confessions were obtained by force. Despite his protests, he was handed three life sentences. In a moment of defiance before being returned to his cell, Khandakji addressed the court, stating that the system had attempted to kill his humanity and that he was now being judged for the very conditions the state had created.
Writing as an Act of Salvation
For Khandakji, writing was never a hobby; it was a survival strategy. He views the act of writing inside a colonial prison as an act of freedom and salvation, allowing him to reclaim his identity and values.
The Logistics of Secret Manuscripts
Producing literature in a high-security environment required extreme risk. Because jailers frequently confiscated pens, paper, and books, Khandakji wrote in secret. The process of getting his work outside the prison walls was an operation in itself. To bypass guards, Khandakji and his comrades employed dangerous methods, including swallowing pages of manuscripts, which were then passed to prisoners upon their release.
A Mask the Color of the Sky
His most acclaimed work, A Mask the Color of the Sky, employs a “mask” technique to explore the Zionist concept of the “other.” The novel follows Norishadi, a young Palestinian archaeologist who assumes a false identity to infiltrate and discover the inner workings of the oppressive system. By using a “white mask,” the protagonist exposes the racism and discrimination inherent in the colonial framework. With the support of his brother, Yusefe, the novel was eventually published and went on to win the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Exile and the Cost of Freedom
Released in October 2025 as part of a deal, Khandakji did not return to his home in Nablus. Instead, he was exiled to Cairo, Egypt. While physically free from a cell, Khandakji describes his current state as a different form of captivity—the captivity of exile.
The emotional toll of this displacement is compounded by the Israeli government’s refusal to grant his mother, who is battling breast cancer, permission to visit him in Egypt. This separation underscores what Khandakji describes as the “small details” of colonialism: the ability of the state to punish an individual by denying them the basic human right to hug their parent.
Advocacy for the “Dungeons”
Despite his own release, Khandakji remains focused on the comrades he left behind. He reports a dire escalation in the treatment of Palestinian prisoners since 2023, citing systemic starvation, the spread of diseases like scabies, and total isolation.
Khandakji argues that the international community and human rights associations have failed to intervene because the Israeli security services block access to the prisons. He continues to use his platform to remind the world that there are human beings suffering in these “dungeons” who are simply seeking to be treated with dignity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Prize for Arabic Fiction?
Often referred to as the “Arabic Booker,” it is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the Arab world, recognizing outstanding novels written in Arabic.
Why was Basem Khandakji tried in a military court?
As a Palestinian in the occupied territories, Khandakji was subject to the military court system established after 1967, which he and many legal critics argue lacks the due process found in civil courts.
What does “hybrid colonialism” mean in Khandakji’s context?
Khandakji uses this term to describe a system that combines elements of settler-colonialism with an apartheid regime, employing different tactics—such as genocide in Gaza and settlement expansion in the West Bank—to maintain control.
Basem Khandakji’s story highlights the enduring power of the written word to transcend physical walls. From a clandestine cell in an Israeli prison to the global stage of literary excellence, his work continues to challenge narratives of dehumanization and demand the restoration of Palestinian humanity.