Footnotes in Gaza

Joe Sacco had already developed an important graphic work, well worth of its recognition, looking at personal research in conflict zones such as the former Yugoslavia or the Palestine revisited in these "Footnotes in Gaza". The frustration of an uneven and often untold conflict shines through the research of the events and killings of Khan Younins and Rafah well over fifty years ago with poignant relevance. The graphic narrative driven out of his personal-research where he becomes another character, another agent in the conflict, is truly outstanding. Sacco offers an intriguingly open and critical account of his efforts and perceptions as he explores the events of the 1956 killing in Palestine, while he visits a region about to witness the US war against Iraq that would topple the regime of Hussein. In doing so, not only he reveals a poignant account about the difficulties and importance of recuperating memories, even the smaller ones, but leaves a trite and cogent account of the past and current circumstances faced by Palestine. Exploring these footnotes in history, sure enough will unfold universal truths for those willing to pick them up, but more importantly sets a memorable and committed effort to develop a graphic journalism with a cause, explored with rigor, on the ground, and setting new narratives worth sharing with a passion.

Like Sacco’s Palestine this book provides a contrary view of the history and status of Gaza. Unlike the establishment view reflected in most MSM articles and news coverage, it brings up the unpleasant reality that Israel has long coveted the territory. Unlike most accounts of the relationship it addresses the massacre by Israeli troops of large numbers of Palestinians during the little-noted 1956 war. The 1956 war was undertaken by Israel in connivance with Britain and France. Look it up. Unfortunately the book was published in 2009 and cannnot therefore cover the repeated deadly assaults on Gaza by Israel. The notion that the current genocidal attacks by Israel on Gaza, though prompted by a real atrocity, is unique fails to move me given the earlier thousands killed in previous “operations” like “Cast Lead.” I hope readers will come away with a sense of Palestinian humanity. In the midst of this now near two-month long campaign campaign against the people of Gaza and its less-noted campaign against Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank.

Joe Sacco is a creative force in the world, putting himself deep into conflict situations (Bosnia, Palestine), doing extensive research, and then documenting his investigations in the form of graphic novels. Sacco is an artist of the first rank. And brutally honest about situations for which the MSM has neither time nor the guts to honestly report. Thank you, Joe, for your work, which is both informative and entertaining on several levels. Each work stands up to multiple readings, and each reading reveals new glimpses into other worlds than our own safe and comfy one. HIghly recommended. Anything by Joe is is worth adding to your collection.

I literally could not put this book down. It had me hooked and engaged from beggining to end. Footnotes literally tells the story of the massacres committed by the Israeli Defense Forces in the Gaza strip during the 1957 Suez war in which Israel, France, and Britain invaded Egypt. In classic reporting style, Joe Sacco tries to piece the puzzle of just what happened during the days of these brutal massacres. The result is an intelligent, engaging, and pro-active book that will leave the reader breathless.

A powerful work for it’s personal truth telling and gritty reality; no façade or pleasantries here. Digs under the skin and demands reading from the heart. Hopefully to effect a softening and crumbling of American walls of complacency. Don’t walk here unless you are willing to confront your conscience.

Havent read this yet in its entirety but it is pretty intense and so the graphic aspect of it makes the messages, story line, and facts more palpable and understandable. I would definitely reccomend this to anyone wanting to understand the issues with Palestine espeacially an adolescent.

Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco is presented as a work of journalistic investigation, but in reality, it reads more like an embarrassing piece of propaganda. Sacco crafts a one-sided narrative that portrays Palestinians exclusively as victims while systematically ignoring their own decisions and the broader historical context of the conflict. Sacco exhibits a deeply cynical approach, selectively highlighting Israeli violence while downplaying the ways in which Palestinians manipulate international media to sustain their victim narrative. Over the years, Palestinian factions have become adept at shaping global perception, ensuring that even when they instigate violence, they are framed as the oppressed. Instead of critically examining this phenomenon, Sacco embraces it wholesale, reinforcing an oversimplified and misleading version of events. Despite the book’s events taking place in the 2000s—over 50 years after Palestinian refugees arrived in Gaza—Sacco avoids asking the obvious question: why are they still in refugee camps? Unlike other displaced populations that have rebuilt their lives, Palestinians have perpetuated their status as refugees, aided by UNRWA and Arab leadership, for political leverage rather than genuine rehabilitation. Sacco neglects to address Palestinian leadership’s repeated rejection of peace efforts, its use of civilians as political pawns, or the strategic choices that have kept Gaza in a state of perpetual conflict. Instead of producing a balanced journalistic work, Joe Sacco has created an embarrassing propaganda piece that distorts reality for political ends. Footnotes in Gaza is not an honest investigation—it is a graphic manipulation of history designed to fit a predetermined narrative rather than uncover the complex truth of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Every member of Congress should be required to read "Footnotes" and spend a week in Gaza before approving more military aid to Israel. And every presidential candidate, too.

Having read all of Joe Sacco's books, I can conclude - unequivocally - that `Footnotes in Gaza' is his best. Centred around Sacco's quest to uncover the truth around Israel's massacre of 111 civilians in the town of Rafah in 1956 (a `footnote' in his early book, `Palestine'), Sacco expertly flits between his odyssey while detailing the current, miserable fate of those living in the Gaza Strip. In a work that details horrific inhumanity, Sacco - conversely - brings great humanity to the vilified Gazans. The book is full of dark humour and personal insights, but nor is the author one to shirk from criticising Palestinians, for example when they glory in the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq. The artwork is stunning in its detail. My favourite set-pieces are when Sacco zooms out of a scene, as if in a film, and reveals the full devastation of Gaza in minute detail. Overall, as a reader, one is left bristling with anger at the injustices of Israel's horrific treatment of Palestinians, but Sacco retains an even tone throughout. Indeed the most obvious comparison one can draw with contemporary Gaza is that of the Warsaw Ghetto. Sacco stops short of making that comparison himself, but anyone studied in history will surely do so. Recalling the Holocaust nevertheless reveals the one weakness in this work. Sacco is largely unsuccessful (although how far he tried, he never tells us) in getting the Israeli perspective on the massacre. What turned the victims of one historical injustice into the perpetrators of another in barely a decade? This is the most intriguing question of Israel's abuse of Palestinians, but one he never addresses. This, nevertheless, is an important book and deserves its place among the literary canon on Palestine. It's cartoon-journalism may be mocked in some quarters, but that is nonsense and an injustice to a style that is as memorable as even the greatest writer could conjure.

Joe Sacco schrijft en illustreert in dit vervolg op Palestina het abominabele leven van Palestijnen in vluchtelingenkampen.

I found this book gave me a lot more insight into the latest conflict between the Israli Government and the people of Palestine. Joe Sacco has done a marvellous job in describing his time in Gaza, and doesn't seem to be "taking sides", as he questions the people of Gaza and their recollections and beliefs just as much as he seeks information into the reasons behind his visits. Inside the "comic book pages", we're exposed to the past horrors of repressive regimes and appreciate the far greater horrors being inflicted on the present-day Palestinian people. Essential reading for anyone seeking to learn about the issues behind the current conflict. A powerful book.

A touching and harrowing tale of the most magnificent and resilient people on the planet, and the systematic genocide they have been subjugated to by imperialist colonizers.

The world needs more investigative journalists like Joe Sacco.