Palestine

The “Terrorists” in My Grandmother’s Neighborhood

January 13, 2025 by Alex Shams

Originally published in the Boston Review on January 13, 2025. Down a tree-lined street near my grandmother’s house in Tehran is a mosque where locals go to chat, rest, and

Iran Palestine

A Persian Christmas Story: How A Jewish Shrine in Qazvin Connects Palestine and Iran

December 24, 2024 by Alex Shams

Originally published on Ajam Media Collective on Dec. 24, 2024. In Qazvin, a few hours west of Tehran, there is a turquoise-blue shrine locals know as Peyghambarieh, “the place of

Opinion Palestine USA

Universities should defend students’ right to free speech, not aid their repression

May 1, 2024 by Alex Shams

Originally published in the Chicago Tribune on May 1, 2024. In mid-April, the University of Southern California banned the school valedictorian from giving a commencement address for the first time in its

Palestine Reporting

How Jesus’s Hometown Is Coping With War at Christmas

December 24, 2023 by Alex Shams

Originally published on The New Republic on Dec. 24, 2023. Bethlehem is usually brimming with cheer—and tourists—this time of year. But the war in Gaza has turned it into a

Israel Opinion Palestine

Israel Needs a Plan in Gaza. Don’t Look to the West Bank for Ideas

November 22, 2023 by Alex Shams

Originally published in Newsweek on Nov. 20, 2023. One of Elias Deis’ first childhood memories is running from soldiers opening fire on his neighbors. It was 1989. The First Intifada

Arab World Palestine Reporting

‘They Don’t Want People to Know We Exist’: Palestinians across the West Bank describe what life has been like since October 7

November 10, 2023 by Alex Shams

Originally published in New York Magazine on Nov. 10, 2023. Over the last month, Israel launched an assault across the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’s October 7 attack, in

Featured India Iraq Israel Palestine Reporting

Amba: The Iraqi Mango Pickle from India That Tops Palestinian Shawarma

October 22, 2018 by Alex Shams

Originally published by Ajam Media Collective on October 22, 2018. Step into any Palestinian shawarma shop and the choice of toppings traverse a mouth-watering array of options: thick tahini-and-parsley bakdoonsiyyeh, crushed shatta peppers

Opinion Palestine

How Trump ruined Christmas for Palestinian Christians

December 25, 2017 by Alex Shams

Originally published by Middle East Eye on December 25, 2017. American support for Israel is helping drive Palestinian Christians out Christmas is a special time of the year in Palestine.

Opinion Palestine

How Israeli control over Jerusalem destroyed its holiest sites

December 18, 2017 by Alex Shams

Originally published by Middle East Eye on December 18, 2017. Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital serves to legitimise ethnic cleansing of Palestinians – Christian and Muslim alike

Iraq Palestine Reporting

The Iraqi soldiers who sacrificed everything to defend Palestine in 1948

May 15, 2017 by Alex Shams

Originally published by Ajam Media Collective on May 15, 2017. The main road north from the West Bank city of Nablus winds between rolling hills covered in olive groves, abandoned