“I criticize Hamas. I criticize Israel. Sometimes I feel like the loneliest Palestinian in the world.” — Hamza Howidy
Raised in Gaza amidst religious extremism and indoctrination, Hamza Howidy’s yearning for freedom put him on a collision course with Hamas. In 2019, he joined protests against their rule and paid the price: imprisonment, torture, and forced exile.
Now 27, he is a vital voice from the Palestinian exile community, refusing to be co-opted in a world defined by polarization. His story defies easy labels, chronicling a journey from indoctrinated youth to a peace activist who mourns victims on all sides. By courageously condemning the violence and corruption of Hamas while also challenging Israeli attacks on civilians, he champions empathy as an act of resistance.
His memoir, Seashells at the Shores of Gaza, serves as a powerful bridge. It is a rare testament to the cost of speaking truth to power that forces readers to confront the complex humanity behind the headlines and offers an urgent plea for a democratic, peaceful future.
"A nuanced and truly rewarding read that presents this topic in a completely different light to how it is usually portrayed." - WDR Westart lesen, Christoph Ohrem
"Anyone who has read this book will see Gaza in a different light afterwards." - NDR Kultur, Guido Pauling
"A book you simply must read to understand Gaza." - haGalil, Andrea Livnat
"This book should be required reading – in Gaza, in Israel, and ideally all over the world. Not because it provides easy answers, but because, once you’ve turned the last page, you’ll be able to think differently than you did before." - Jüdische Allgemeine, Sabine Brandes
"An encouragement to think critically, an extraordinary plea for human solidarity and a compelling rejection of rigid political or religious slogans." - Deutschlandfunk Lesart, Carsten Hueck
