Road to October 7: A Brief History of Palestinian Islamism by Eric Skare

"A very detailed and profound background to the role of Islamism in the Palestian struggle for liberation. A must read for anyone wishing to understand the historical and ideological contexts for the events of 7 October 2023 and the future struggles in Palestine. Impressive professional acumen presented with a clear and accessible style that will stand out in the proliferation of works that have appeared recently on the subject."
--Ilan Pappe, author of Ten Myths about Israel

"This timely, important, impressively researched, and cogently argued study provides vital historical and political context for understanding the origins of the transformative crisis that erupted from the Gaza Strip in October 2023. Erik Skare has dedicated many years to the study of these issues, and this is amply demonstrated in his Road to 7 October."
--Mouin Rabbani, Co-Editor of Jadaliyya

How Islamism became a leading force in the Palestinian resistance

In Road to October 7, Erik Skare argues that Palestinian Islamism is far more complex and dynamic than generally assumed. The phenomenon has continuously developed through disputes between moderates and hardliners. These struggles have largely been settled by external drivers - intra-Palestinian competition, Israeli violence and repression, or shifts in the regional power balance.

Erik Skare is a historian at the University of Oslo and the author of the award-winning A History of Palestinian Islamic Jihad: Faith, Awareness, and Revolution in the Middle East. He specializes on Palestinian history with a particular focus on religion and secular politics. Skare has published extensively on Palestinian Islamism and resistance, and his work has been cited in The Washington Post, Le Monde Diplomatique, and other international news outlets.