Studies in

Prison literature is a literary genre characterized by specific features and components linked to imprisonment. It includes works written during periods of incarceration or those addressing the prison setting, prisoner conditions, and the overall prison atmosphere. Throughout history, numerous writers have been imprisoned for various political or ideological reasons, expressing the bitterness of imprisonment in their artistic works and presenting this experience to readers. In contemporary Arabic literature, especially within Palestinian society—which is continually subjected to the aggressions of the Zionist occupation—the issue of political prisoners and the injustices and lack of justice they suffer stands out prominently. Martyr Yahya al-Sinwar is among the Palestinian writers who spent many long years in Israeli occupation prisons, witnessing all the painful events inside prison firsthand. In his novel, al-Sinwar adopts a critical approach to reflect the harsh reality of Israeli prisons and the turbulent political and social conditions within Palestinian society. This study aims to analyze the components of prison literature in Yahya al-Sinwar’s novel “Al-Shawk wa Al-Qarnafl,” using the descriptive-analytical method. The findings indicate that the conditions of political prisoners, their places of detention, their food, their physical and psychological state, their exposure to torture and interrogation methods, in addition to the extent of injustice and lack of justice in the prisons, are all depicted in a tragic and sorrowful manner. These prisoners enjoy no measure of comfort or freedom, and this deprivation of freedom and justice has even led to types of strikes that serve as a protest against the deplorable existing conditions, even if such protests have not led to tangible results. The components of prison literature in al-Sinwar’s novel present a clear and realistic depiction of the conditions of Palestinian political prisoners within Israeli prisons for the reader. Al-Sinwar, with a tone of angry criticism, asserts that the ongoing violence against prisoners not only leads to the deterioration of their physical condition but also leaves deep psychological scars, making them more susceptible to depression and anxiety. He also highlights how this violence reflects the system of oppression and control exercised by the occupying entity within the prisons, stripping prisoners of their freedom and privacy and exacerbating their psychological suffering. Through his critical tone, the author seeks to expose the inhumane practices and crimes committed against Palestinian prisoners to the world. In conclusion