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Israeli author Amir Tibon wins Sami Rohr Prize for Oct. 7 memoir

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Israeli journalist and author Amir Tibon won the 2026 Sami Rohr Prize for nonfiction for his book "The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel’s Borderlands."
  • Tibon will receive $100,000 and be honored at a ceremony on July 28, alongside three other finalists.
  • The book recounts Tibon's family's experience during the October 7 Hamas attack and addresses rising antisemitism and debates about Gaza's resettlement.

Amir Tibon, an Israeli journalist and author, has been awarded the 2026 Sami Rohr Prize for nonfiction for his book "The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel’s Borderlands." The prize includes a $100,000 award and will be presented at a ceremony on July 28 at the National Library of Israel. Tibon will be honored alongside three other finalists: Laura Hobson Faure, Shaul Kelner, and Jordan Salama.

It is an incredible honor to receive the Sami Rohr Prize and join the esteemed list of writers who have won this award over the past two decades.

— Amir TibonIn a Sami Rohr Prize press release.

Tibon's book details his family's harrowing experience during the October 7 Hamas attack. He and his wife, along with their two young daughters, were living in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near the Gaza border, when the assault occurred. The memoir recounts the bravery of his parents, who drove to the kibbutz to rescue them.

The mission of the Rohr Prize has never been more important, as we confront a rising tide of antisemitism around the globe and its unique ripples within the world of books and literature.

— Amir TibonDiscussing the relevance of his book and the prize amid rising antisemitism.

The "Gates of Gaza" is considered particularly relevant due to the current rise in antisemitism and ongoing discussions about Israel's potential resettlement of the Gaza Strip. Tibon noted the importance of the Rohr Prize's mission in confronting global antisemitism and its impact on literature. He also stated his gratitude to the judging panel for recognizing his work during this "crucial moment."

I’m grateful to the judging panel for choosing to recognize my work at this crucial moment.

— Amir TibonExpressing gratitude for the award.

The Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature was established in 2006 by George, Evelyn, and Lillian Rohr to honor their father, Sami Rohr, a philanthropist and avid reader who fled Berlin after Kristallnacht and built a global business. His son, George Rohr, stated that his father understood living through darkness and emerging with hope intact, a spirit central to the prize.

Our father knew what it meant to live through darkness and come out on the other side with his identity and hope intact.

— George RohrDescribing the spirit of his father, Sami Rohr, after whom the prize is named.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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