Books Decolonizing Palestine: Hamas between the Anticolonial and the Postcolonial by Somdeep Sen (Author)

"Decolonizing Palestine: Hamas between the Anticolonial and the Postcolonial" by Somdeep Sen is a scholarly book that challenges the idea that liberation from colonialism is a single historical event marked by the expulsion of the colonizer. Instead, Sen analyzes the Palestinian struggle as a complex blend of colonial and postcolonial conditions. The book specifically focuses on Hamas following its unexpected electoral victory in 2006, exploring how the organization simultaneously functions as an armed resistance to Israeli settler-colonial rule and a governing body.

Drawing on ethnographic research conducted between 2013 and 2016 in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Egypt, Sen investigates why Hamas maintains both its military and political roles rather than abandoning either. This dual role underscores the paradoxes of liberation movements and contributes to broader discussions in postcolonial studies. The book offers insights into the psychological and empirical dimensions of Palestinian anticolonial resistance and governance under ongoing occupation.