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Portrait of Izzat Ghazzawi

Izzat Ghazzawi

Voice of Palestinian suffering

Born
1951
Born in
Deir al-Ghusun, Tulkarm Governorate, Palestine
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Why Izzat is here

His writings and activism highlighted the deep struggles of the Palestinian people under occupation.

Their story

Izzat Ghazzawi was a Palestinian writer, professor, and activist. His work emphasized the suffering of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, and he was imprisoned several times for his political views. Ghazzawi was also the recipient of several international awards, including the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2001. He dedicated his life to portraying the Palestinian experience through literature and his academic career at Birzeit University.

He died in Ramallah on 4 April 2003.

Milestones

The moments that shaped Izzat’s path.

  1. 1951

    Born in Deir al-Ghusun

    Grew up during the period of Jordanian rule in the West Bank before Israeli occupation.

  2. Wrote extensively on Palestinian suffering

    Ghazzawi’s novels and essays depicted the hardships Palestinians faced under occupation.

  3. Arrested and detained multiple times

    Due to his political activism and writings, he was often imprisoned by Israeli occupation.

  4. 2001

    Won the Sakharov Prize

    Shared the 2001 Sakharov Prize with Nurit Peled-Elhanan and Dom Zacarias Kamwenho.

  5. Lost his son during the First Intifada

    His 16-year-old son Rami was killed by Israeli soldiers in his school courtyard in 1993 while helping a wounded friend.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Amplified Palestinian voices in global literature

    His work provided an international platform for the Palestinian struggle.

  2. Promoted freedom of expression

    Ghazzawi’s activism and writing were centered on resisting Israeli occupation and promoting free thought.

  3. Fought for academic freedom in Palestine

    As a professor at Birzeit University, he championed educational rights for Palestinians under occupation.

  4. Received international recognition for his activism

    Ghazzawi’s work earned him global respect, reflected in prestigious awards like the Sakharov Prize.

  5. Became a symbol of Palestinian resilience

    His personal tragedies, such as the loss of his son, deepened his commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights.

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