Samira Azzam experienced the Nakba, exile and the struggles between Israel and Palestine
Samira Azzam was one of the most important Palestinian writers of the 20th century, notable for her contributions to short story literature, which is currently little known. Born on September 13, 1927, in the city of Acre, Palestine, into an Orthodox Christian family, daughter of Qaisar Azzam and Olympe Buri and married to Adib Yusuf al-Hisn. Her work in broadcasting, short story writing and journalism has unfortunately been forgotten. His story collections explore Palestinian identity in deep and meaningful ways.
Childhood and youth
Samira Azzim completed her primary education at a public school in Acre and her secondary education at Nuns' College in Haifa, Israel. She also took an English correspondence course. As she had an excellent command of written and spoken English, she translated into Arabic the writings of George Bernard Shaw, John Steinbeck, W. Somerset Maugham, and Edith Wharton. At the age of sixteen, Samira worked as a teacher at the Greek Orthodox school in Acre from 1943 to 1945. While still a teenager, in the early 1940s, she began publishing articles in the newspaper Filastin under the pseudonym "The Girl from the Coast".
Long and endless conflict between Israel and Palestine
The conflict between Israel and Palestine is a prolonged and complex dispute, involving historical, territorial, religious and political issues. Palestine is important to Jews, Christians and Muslims and Jerusalem is central to Jewish tradition. Until World War I, the region was under control of the Ottoman Empire. After the war, Palestine was administered by the British. With the Balfour Declaration in 1917, Britain supported the creation of a national home for Jews in Palestine, increasing Jewish immigration and tensions with the Arab population.
In 1947, the UN proposed the Partition Plan for Palestine, recommending the creation of two independent states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem under international administration. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, but Arab leaders and most of the Palestinian Arab population rejected it.
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the creation of the State of Israel. The following day, Arab forces from neighboring countries invaded the territory, starting the 1948 Arab Israeli War or War of Independence for Israel. During and after the conflict, a total of 700,000 to 800,000 Palestinians were expelled from their lands or fled their homes due to a combination of fear, violence, and outright expulsions. Between 400 and 500 Palestinian villages were destroyed. This period became known as Nakba, an Arabic word that means “catastrophe.”
Large numbers of Palestinian refugees have settled in camps in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and other countries. Many of these refugees and their descendants still live in precarious conditions without a permanent solution to their situation. The Nakba continues to be a crucial point of pain and identity for Palestinians and a major factor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In December 1948, the UN General Assembly approved Resolution 194, giving Palestinian refugees the right to return to their lands if they so desired. However, this resolution was never fulfilled. May 15 is celebrated as Nakba Day by Palestinians, remembering the loss of their land, homes, and way of life. The Nakba is not just a historic event, but an ongoing reality for many Palestinians, as issues of the right to return, refugee status, and self-determination remain unresolved.
Creation of the Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip, as a distinct geopolitical entity, began to take shape after the Arab Israeli War of 1948-1949. After the war, Egypt occupied the territory of the Gaza Strip. The 1949 armistice between Israel and Egypt delineated the border of the Gaza Strip, thus formalizing its existence as a strip of land under Egyptian control.
According to Francesca Albanese, United Nations special rapporteur for Occupied Palestine, around 40% of Palestinians in the West Bank have been refugees since 1948 who fled violence following the creation of the State of Israel.” Furthermore, most Gaza Strip residents are refugees or descendants of refugees, according to the UN expert.
Later conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians
In the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, Sinai, and the Golan Heights, changing the political map. Peace Agreements and Intifadas were created. "Intifada" is an Arabic term meaning "revolt" or "uprising". Peace attempts, such as the Oslo Accords (1993), established the Palestinian Authority. Two intifadas (1987 and 2000) resulted in violence:
FIRST INTIFADA (1987-1993) - started in December 1987, it was marked by protests, strikes, and clashes between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli military. It ended with the Oslo Accords in 1993, which sought to establish peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
SECOND INTIFADA (2000-2005) - also known as the "Al-Aqsa Intifada", began in September 2000 after Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount/Esplanade of the Mosques, seen as a provocation by the Palestinians. This intifada was more violent, with suicide bombings and military operations, resulting in many deaths on both sides. The violence subsided in 2005, without a formal agreement to end it. Both intifadas had a major impact on Israeli-Palestinian relations and the peace process in the region.
Situation before the War between Israel and Hamas
Israel has established settlements in the West Bank, considered illegal under international law, making peace negotiations difficult. Jerusalem's status is claimed by both sides; Israel considers it its "indivisible" capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem. Under strict blockade by Israel and Egypt, the Gaza Strip is governed by Hamas, which opposes the existence of Israel. Armed conflicts between Israel and Hamas are frequent, resulting in many deaths and destruction.
Literary career of Samira Azzam
Samira Azzam's literary career began when she was a teacher and later as a broadcaster on several Arabic radio stations, including Radio Baghdad and Radio Kuwait. She also worked in journalism and literary writing, writing articles and short stories that dealt with the social and political issues affecting Palestine and Palestinians.
Samira grew up in a time of great turmoil in Palestine. After the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, Samira Azzam and her family were relocated to Lebanon due to the expulsion and flight of Palestinians. This experience of exile and uprooting was deeply reflected in her writing.
After two years Samira Azzam left her family to become director of Hilla Girls School, located in the city of Hilla, Iraq. Hilla is a historic city located in the center of the country, south of Baghdad, known for its proximity to the ruins of Ancient Babylon. Hilla Girls School, being an educational institution, served the local community by providing education for girls in a region with a rich cultural and historical heritage.
In Iraq, she began her career as a radio announcer for the Middle East Asia Broadcasting Company. First, Samira wrote for the program “Women's Corner.” In 1954, the station moved to Beirut, and she oversaw a daily program called “When Morning Comes.” Her voice has become a regular presence in the lives of many Arabs, making her writing even more powerful. In Lebanon, Samira Azzam published her literary production in magazines such as al-Adib and al-Adab. Samira continued to work for that station until it was closed following the tripartite aggression against Egypt in the fall of 1956.
Her first book of short stories, "Ashya’ Saghira" (Small Things), was published in 1954 and marked the beginning of a promising literary career. She published three more collections of short stories before her premature death in 1967. On December 24, 1959, Azzam married Adib Yousef Hasan. They returned to Iraq for a brief time. However, they had to leave when the monarchy fell, and the new republic accused Azzam's broadcasts of being hostile to the government. Abd al-Karim Qasim's regime expelled the couple from Iraq, accusing them of Nasserist sympathies.
Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970) was an important Egyptian political leader and a central figure in the history of Egypt and the Arab world in the 20th century. He is best known for his role as President of Egypt, a position he held from 1956 until his death in 1970.
Upon returning to Beirut, she began writing for numerous women's publications and translating English classics into Arabic. In Beirut, Samira Azzam hired the Franklin Company for Publishing and Translation to translate a series of literary works from English into Arabic. From the early 1960s, she was a regular contributor to the Beirut weekly Al-Hawadith. Her articles addressed political and social issues, in addition to literary themes.
Samira Azzam's dangerous political activities
In the early 1960s, several secret Palestinian organizations were created. She played a prominent role in forming the nucleus of what became the Palestine Liberation Front in 1961. Azzam was the only woman among a group of male fighters who came together to prepare for the creation of this front, also known as “Tariq al-' awda” (the Path to return), since he issued her first secret proclamation in 1963.
Samira Azzam continued her secret and tireless fight. She quickly became responsible for the women's section at the front, a role she maintained until her death.
In terms of public political activity, she participated in the First Palestine National Congress in May 1964, from which the PLO – Palestine Liberation Organization – emerged on May 28. Samira was one of eight women who represented the women of Palestine at that historic congress. A year later, she attended the conference held by the General Union of Palestinian Women in Jerusalem.
The Collected Stories of Samira Azzam
“Out of Time: The Collected Stories of Samira Azzam” is a collection of thirty-one short stories published by Arablit Books. The tales capture the plight of an oppressed people, the nostalgia of days gone by, and generational trauma, expressing the daily lives and concerns of people interconnected by injustice and reminiscence.
Azzam focuses on individual experiences rather than explicitly portraying occupation and exile, creating a sense of melancholy that permeates her stories. Ranya Abdelrahman's English translation preserves the essence of the narratives.
Azzam's own life, marked by the Nakba and her exile, influences her stories. The stories evolve towards a more political tone, maintaining the characteristic subtlety, and address struggles not only in Palestine, but also in Iraq during the First World War.
Top books and reviews by Samira Azzam
ASHYA’ SAGHIRA (Small Things) – collection of short stories that explore the everyday lives of Palestinians, their struggles, joys, and sadness. Azzam uses simple but evocative language, allowing readers to feel the depth of his characters' emotions. The short stories are short but powerful, each capturing a specific moment or emotion that resonates deeply.
AL-BAYD AL-MUTHAJ (The Frozen Eggs) - Azzam continues to explore themes of displacement and identity. This collection of short stories is marked by strong social and political criticism, reflecting the disillusionment and hope of Palestinians in the diaspora. Azzam's characters are complex and multifaceted, reflecting the diversity of the Palestinian experience. The author uses metaphors and symbols to deepen the narrative, creating stories that are both literary and deeply human.
SAA’A AL-TARIKH (Storytime) – collection of short stories that highlights Samira Azzam’s ability to combine the personal with the political. Characters often face moral and ethical dilemmas, reflecting the difficult choices imposed by the historical context in which they live. Azzam uses a compelling narrative to explore themes of resilience, justice, and human dignity.
AL-TAREEQ AL-JADEED (The New Path) – work that reflects the desire for renewal and change in Palestinian society. It addresses the hopes and aspirations of young Palestinians, as well as the challenges they face. The narrative is optimistic but realistic, offering a balanced view of the possibilities and limitations that shape the lives of Palestinians.
Out of Time: The Collected Short Stories of Samira Azzam
Out of time: the collected short stories of Samira Azzam - published by Arablit Books, is a collection of thirty-one short stories that address the everyday concerns and lives of people interconnected by a web of injustice and memories with a focus on individual experiences. The reading provokes an intense melancholy and offers lessons in perspective, thanks to the English translation by Egyptian translator Ranya Abdelrahman, who captures the essence of the stories. The perspectives of the stories reflect the life of Azzam, who lived through the 1948 Nakba.
Literary reviews received by Samir Azzam
Short story writing was popular in the 1950s for several reasons. The stories lent themselves very well to distribution. They could be read aloud on the radio. They could also be published in newspapers and as collections that could easily reach the hands of readers. For the editors of “Out of Time,” it was important to try to raise awareness of Azzam’s brilliance as an author.
Among Palestinian women, Samira Azzam was a pioneer in the field of journalism and broadcasting and in terms of clandestine nationalist activity. She also produced five collections of short stories, as well as literary and critical studies. The Egyptian critic Raja al-Naqqash called her the “princess of the Arabic tale.”
In her obituary, Ghassan Kanafani addressed her as “My teacher and instructor.” Regarding her literary production, Kanafani stated: “You cannot describe her production as feminist. Instead, one might call it ‘literature of exile’ because it revolves around a national cause that is more extensive from a human point of view than a mere reflection of the psychological or sentimental reality of women.”
For Muhammad Hussein, a graduate in International Politics and political analyst of Middle Eastern affairs, the short stories in Out of Time: The Collected Short Stories of Samira Azzam encapsulate the oppression of a people, the nostalgia for forgotten days and generational trauma with impressive depth. .
Characteristics of Samira Azzam's writing
Samira Azzam is widely recognized for her collections of stories that explore Palestinian identity during a tumultuous time. Her first collection, "Small Things," published in 1954, examined the role of women in Palestinian society. Upon returning to Beirut in 1959, Azzam turned her attention to other social structures, such as class hierarchy, publishing two more collections: "The Big Shadow" and "The Clock and the Man".
Her writing did not directly blame the causes of these social structures, but created storylines that characterized subcultures within Palestinian society, relating them to the political context of the time and offering an approach that considers the entirety of a system rather than focusing only on its isolated parts. .
Azzam has dedicated much of his work to the Palestinian experience in the diaspora, addressing themes of precision and control, often centering her stories on a specific action or choice. In "Little Things," for example, her characters struggle with questions of identity and purpose. In the story "Because He Loved Them", she portrays a farmer who loses everything in the 1948 exodus, turning to alcohol and, tragically, killing his wife in a fit of despair. Azzam does not characterize him as evil, but as someone noble who made bad decisions due to adverse circumstances.
Samira Azzam also made an extensive comment about women in society. Instead of directly blaming men for women's oppression, she attributed their struggles to society. This view is exemplified in "For He Loved Them", where the wife is seen as a victim of the circumstances surrounding her husband, rather than of him.
Although initially her political views were masked, Samira Azzam began to make her allegories clearer, reflecting Palestinian political struggles. In the story “The Way to Solomon's Pools,” Azzam narrates the desperate attempt of a village teacher to resist Israeli forces, symbolizing the Palestinian struggle for survival. The teacher buries her only son under a tree, representing the Palestinians' persistent hope that one day their land will belong to them again.
The motifs in their stories often reflected their own struggles. Her heroes, often independent and responsible for supporting their families, were inspired by her own life of work since she was young. Her characters were seen as realistic, focusing on the struggles of ordinary people, even though she did not belong to that demographic.
Status of the conflict between Israel and Hamas
Following the start of an Israeli military operation against Hamas on October 7 2023, nearly two million people fled their homes in Gaza. The UN has declared the Gaza Strip "uninhabitable" due to its high population density and damage from fighting. With the closure of the Erez border, residents of Gaza City headed south, including Khan Younis and Rafah, which is now home to more than a million people. Rafah faces food shortages and overcrowded shelters.
After a brief ceasefire in November 2023, humanitarian aid declined, due to continued bombings and fuel shortages, which caused severe damage to civilian infrastructure. More than 500,000 people are homeless, and many medical facilities are inoperable. Israeli ground operations aim to eliminate Hamas fighters, resulting in severe damage, especially in the north and Gaza City. Only twelve of the thirty-six hospitals are partially functioning.
It is estimated that almost 30,000 Palestinians were killed, including 8,000 children, and more than 1,200 Israelis and foreigners. The two-state solution is widely supported as best for peace, but it faces significant obstacles such as security issues and the status of Jerusalem, requiring compromises and goodwill from both sides.
Role of the United States in the Conflict between Israel and Palestine
The United States plays a significant role in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, providing considerable military and economic aid to Israel, including annual funding, advanced military technologies, and weapons. In the international arena, the United States frequently uses its veto power in the UN Security Council to protect Israel from unfavorable resolutions and is a staunch supporter of Israel in various international organizations and diplomatic negotiations.
Historically, the United States has functioned as a mediator in attempts to resolve the conflict between Jews and Palestinians, such as the Camp David Accords (1978), Oslo Accords (1993), and the Camp David Summit (2000). The proposed two-state solution, defended by many American presidents, seeks to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel. On several occasions, the United States has presented peace proposals, such as the 2020 Middle East Peace Plan during the Trump administration, which was criticized for being pro-Israel.
The United States also provides humanitarian and economic assistance to the Palestinians, varying depending on the current American administration. Organizations like USAID help with infrastructure, healthcare, and education in the region. Recognition of Palestine and support for its right to establish an independent state also varies, as exemplified by the Trump administration's 2017 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a decision condemned by Palestinians.
The United States uses its political influence on pressure both parties toward negotiations and compromises, including limiting settlement expansion in the West Bank and encouraging the Palestinian leadership to engage in direct negotiations. Military aid to Israel and assistance to the Palestinians often come with specific conditions related to security and political reforms.
Death and oblivion of Samira Azzam
One of the reasons why Samira Azzam's name is not widely known today is due to her premature death in 1967 at the age of thirty-nine. Samira Azzam was writing a novel titled "Sinai Without Borders." She destroyed it after the Arab defeat in the Six-Day War in 1967. Two volumes of her stories were published posthumously, consolidating her legacy as one of the most important voices in Palestinian literature.
Just before she turned forty, she was on a summer trip to Amman with friends to interview war refugees when she suffered a heart attack and died in her car.
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