New Books in Middle Eastern Studies Anne Irfan, "A Short History of the Gaza Strip" (Simon & Schuster, 2025)
Dec 2, 2025
Anne Irfan, a historian at University College London and author of *A Short History of the Gaza Strip*, dives deep into Gaza's tumultuous past. She explores the Nakba's pivotal role in shaping the region's demographics and political landscape. Irfan challenges the narrative of ancient hatreds, arguing the conflict's roots are modern and political. She highlights ongoing displacement and refugeehood, intertwining personal testimonies with statistics. Finally, she discusses the diverse ideologies within Palestinian politics and critiques historical misunderstandings impacting policy today.
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Gaza Strip Is A Modern Political Creation
- The Gaza Strip is a modern political creation born from the 1948 Nakba and is distinct from ancient Gaza city.
- Demographic and territorial realities of Gaza can only be understood by tracing the mass displacement of 1948.
Six Moments Explain Gaza's Outsized Role
- Irfan identifies six key historical junctures that explain Gaza's outsized political significance.
- Gaza's centrality cannot be explained by size or resources but by these repeated historical moments.
Oslo Cemented Continuity, Not Resolution
- The Oslo Accords institutionalised an interim Palestinian Authority without ending occupation or guaranteeing statehood.
- Oslo facilitated continuities like settlement expansion and outsourced aspects of occupation to the Palestinian Authority.
