Ghassan Kanafani (1936–1972) was born in Palestine. From 1948 onward, after his family was displaced during the Nakba, he spent his life in exile, first in Kuwait and then Lebanon.

He was a prolific writer, completing novels and short stories as well as literary criticism and journalism. His literary work brings together burning political questions and a storytelling style that is powerful. He remains one of the most important figures in Arab literature.

He was assassinated in 1972 at the age of 36, along with his teenaged niece, in a car bombing carried out by Mossad in Beirut.