The Thorn and The Carnation by Yahya Al-Sinwar

Isbn: 9781445774152

Pages: 352

Author: Yahya Al-Sinwar

The Thorn and The Carnation (Arabic: شوك القرنفل, romanized: Shawk al-Qaranful), written by Yahya Al-Sinwar while a political prisoner in an Israeli jail, is a semi-autobiographical novel that poignantly describes the Palestinian struggle for freedom through the story of a refugee family in the al-Shati camp in Gaza. The narrative spans multiple decades, following the family’s displacement from Ashkelon in 1948 and detailing their harsh living conditions, the development of their political identities—with different brothers joining Fatah and the Islamic resistance—and their unyielding resilience under occupation. Using the metaphor of “thorns” (the pain of struggle) and “carnations” (hope and perseverance), the book explores themes of resistance, family bonds, and historical trauma, offering insight into the motivations behind the Palestinian resistance movement and a rare glimpse into the worldview of one of Hamas’s future leaders.