A Palestinian man who became a novelist while in an Israeli prison is now free

By Daniel Estrin

Published November 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM EST

Palestinian novelist Bassem Khandaqji won Arabic literature's top prize while in Israeli prison for a deadly Tel Aviv bombing. He was freed last month in the hostage-prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel.

Daniel Estrin

Daniel Estrin is NPR's international correspondent in Jerusalem.

See stories by Daniel Estrin

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