(Frankfurt) British-American author Salman Rushdie called for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas “as soon as possible”, saying he was “horrified” and “full of bad forebodings”, during a conference of press Friday in Frankfurt.
Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burned alive, according to Israeli authorities.
In response, Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign on Gaza. At least 3,785 Palestinians, mostly civilians, died in the bombings, according to the latest tally from the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
“I’m horrified, that’s all I can say,” he said of the conflict during a rare public appearance at the international book fair in Frankfurt, Germany, a year ago. after being the victim of a knife attack in the United States.
“I am horrified by the Hamas attack and full of bad forebodings about what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will do in return,” the author elaborated.
“I just hope there will be a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible,” he added.
Mr. Rushdie, 76, lost sight in one eye after a stabbing attack by an attacker who jumped on stage at a New York state literary conference in August 2022.
The perpetrator was stabbed several times in the neck and abdomen, before participants and guards overpowered the assailant.
Based in New York, Mr. Rushdie has faced death threats since the publication of his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses, which was deemed blasphemous by Iran’s supreme leader.
Wearing glasses with a black lens over his right eye, Rushdie said Friday that “it’s obviously been a tough year.”
“But I am happy to be back in good health,” added the author, who is to receive the prestigious Peace Prize at the Frankfurt International Book Fair.
The attack “was a pretty harsh and brutal reminder” of the fatwa issued against him, he continued, calling it “quite surprising” because “the tension had calmed down.”
“I’m just happy to still be here to say it – it was borderline,” the novelist said.
Earlier this month, Mr. Rushdie’s publishers announced that he would release a book next April about the attack on him. It will be titled Knife: Meditations After Attempted Murder.
When asked about this new work, he said: “It would seem a little absurd to write about anything else, before having dealt with this subject. »
