The Gaza Strip is one of the most widely-reported on regions in the world—yet misinformation about its history and its people abound. In this vital book, historian Anne Irfan explains Gaza’s outsized political significance through six pivotal moments in its modern history, beginning with Israel’s expulsion of the Palestinian people upon its establishment in 1948, when the Gaza region was truncated to the “strip” we know today. As she takes us through Israel’s occupation of Gaza, the Palestinian national struggle and formation of the PLO, the first intifada, the creation of the Palestinian Authority and the rise of Hamas, she tackles widespread historical ignorance and untangles contradicting narratives.

Drawing on a decade of research, Irfan weaves in the voices of everyday Palestinians, from farmers and teachers to poets and activists. Written with remarkable clarity and compassion, A Short History of the Gaza Strip is an indispensable read for anyone seeking to understand Palestine today.