A Palestinian convicted in bombing plot is now an award-winning novelist, and free

Bassem Khandaqji, 41, poses for a photo at a hotel in Cairo on Oct. 17, 2025, days after Israel freed him and other Palestinian prisoners in the Gaza ceasefire deal. He was imprisoned for helping plan a deadly 2004 bombing in Tel Aviv, and went on to become an award-winning novelist in prison.

Bassem Khandaqji entered prison 21 years ago for plotting a deadly bombing in Israel. He left prison as an award-winning novelist.

(Image credit: Ahmed Abuhamda)