Book in Focus: Vanished by Ahmed Masoud

Vanished: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mustafa Ouda is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that blends literary mystery with the harsh realities of life under occupation. The story centers around Omar Ouda, a boy growing up in Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, who is haunted by the absence of his father, Mustafa Ouda, who vanished mysteriously when Omar was just a baby. As he grows older, Omar becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth. At eight years old, he declares himself the “youngest detective in Gaza” and begins questioning everyone around him—his mother, his uncle Attiya, neighbors, and even Israeli soldiers—piecing together fragments of the past with determination and innocence.

What begins as a child’s earnest investigation takes a darker turn when Omar is drawn into the manipulative grasp of Uri Hrabovsky, an Israeli military officer who blackmails him into becoming an informant. Promised answers about his father in exchange for information on resistance members in the community, Omar makes decisions that lead to tragic consequences, including violence, betrayal, and deep personal loss. As the web of secrecy and coercion tightens, Omar struggles with guilt and shame, his moral compass spinning under the pressure of survival and the manipulation of adults on all sides.

Along the way, Omar uncovers hints that his father’s disappearance may be tied not only to the occupation but also to family betrayal involving property disputes and hidden legal documents. As the truth becomes more complex and painful, Omar is forced to confront the roles played by those closest to him. The novel, narrated partly through adult Omar’s journal to his son Mustafa, reveals a man still grappling with the ghosts of his past, even as he returns to Gaza to retrieve a remnant of the family home destroyed in an airstrike. Masoud’s prose captures the emotional intensity of trauma, resilience, and the quiet dignity of those living through the unthinkable. Vanished is not just a mystery; it is a profound exploration of memory, silence, and the ways in which a life can be shaped—and shattered—by a single disappearance.

Ahmed Masoud is a British Palestinian writer and director, originally from Gaza. He is the author of Vanished, first published in 2015 to wide critical acclaim, and a frequent contributor to outlets exploring Middle Eastern politics and identity. Masoud’s work spans novels, plays, and political commentary, often drawing from his personal experience growing up under occupation. He is also the founder of the Al Zaytouna Dance Theatre and has collaborated with notable artists, including Ken Loach and Maxine Peake.