DayofPal– A Book written by renowned Palestinian Prisoner Hassan Salameh has topped all book memoirs categories at the Second Edition of the Palestine International Prize for Literature.
Salameh’s book “Five Thousand Days in the World of Barzakh” was awarded the best in a ceremony took place on Monday, December 16, in a vibrant cultural gathering that included writers, publishers, union leaders, and activists committed to the Palestinian cause from various participating countries.
The competition received 360 submissions in seven languages from 26 countries, which were evaluated by specialized juries over three phases.
Salameh’s groundbreaking book provides a rare glimpse into the lives of Palestinian prisoners held in solitary confinement within Israeli occupation prisons, narrating his experience over an astonishing five thousand days in isolation.
Published by the Al-Zaytouna Center for Studies and Consultations, the 224-page book chronicles the harrowing journey of Hassan Salameh, a prominent Qassam military leader sentenced by the Israeli occupation to 48 life terms and an additional 35 years.
Nearly 5,000 of those days were spent in solitary confinement as punishment for leading the “Holy Revenge” operations in response to the assassination of Yahya Ayyash in 1996, which led to Salameh becoming one of Israel’s most wanted until his capture following severe injuries.
This memoir, the first of its kind, sheds light on the profound struggles of Palestinian prisoners, documenting the brutality, oppression, and inhumanity of the Israeli occupation. Salameh recounts the fierce battle waged by prisoners, stripped of all but their faith in God and the justice of their cause, to wrestle for their basic rights.
The book also captures extraordinary moments of resilience, recounting tales of dignity, sacrifice, freedom, and love. It highlights the bittersweet mix of longing, joy, sorrow, and defiance experienced by the prisoners.
Salameh’s narrative serves not only as a testament to their endurance but also as a historical record of the systematic use of solitary confinement by the occupation to weaken Palestinian leaders, isolate them from their communities, and disrupt their organizational capabilities.
Ultimately, “Five Thousand Days in the World of Barzakh” stands as both a moving personal account and a vital document exposing the grim reality of life in Israeli prisons while celebrating the unyielding spirit of the Palestinian struggle.
Ghufran Zamel, the fiancée of prisoner Hassan Salameh, described his recent achievement as a triumph of the human spirit, a testament to the resilience of a man confined to solitary confinement in the prisons of the Israeli occupation, stripped of all basic human rights.
In an exclusive interview with Shehab News Agency, Ghufran emphasized the profound significance of this victory. “It is a beacon of light piercing through the darkness of prison cells,” she said.
“It carries powerful messages to the world, narrating the suffering of Palestinian prisoners and defying the oppressor. It is a challenge to the Israeli Zionist jailer, proving that the walls of their cells cannot silence the voices of our prisoners or stifle their miraculous tales of perseverance and patience.”
Ghufran expressed her heartfelt hope that Hassan will soon taste the sweetness of freedom, sharing his own stories of imprisonment and injustice. “The greatest prize he dreams of is liberation from the occupation’s prisons, which the enemy seeks to turn into graves for our heroes,” she concluded.
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