‘Filled With Horror’: Salman Rushdie Says About Hamas-Israel War

World renowned Indian-British author Salman Rushdie has called for an end to the Hamas-Israel war during a public appearance at a book fair in Frankfurt, Germany.

At a press conference on Friday at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Rushdie spoke about the war in the Middle East and his fears that the conflict may escalate.

“I am filled with horror about the attack by Hamas. I’m filled with foreboding about what Netanyahu might do in return. I just hope that there can be a cessation in hostilities at the earliest point,” Rushdie said.

Rushdie is at the book fair to talk about his upcoming book “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder” that will be published April 2024.

The memoir tells the story of his struggle with overcoming his traumatic experience of being attacked while on stage in the United States. In 2022, Rushdie was stabbed multiple times by a 24-year-old Hadi Matar with Islamist ties.

Iran has a historical involvement in threats against Rushdie due to Ayatollah Khomeini's 1989 fatwa against what he asserted were sacrilegious sections regarding Islam in Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses.

Experts suggest that Matar was possibly influenced by Hezbollah during his time in Lebanon and that this may have played a role in his attack. Iran has denied direct involvement but expressed support for the attack since it took place.

Rushdie lost sight in one eye after the attack and has been wearing a black lens over his right eye.

"It's obviously been a difficult year."

"But I'm happy to be back in reasonable health," added Rushdie, who is to receive the prestigious Peace Prize of the German Book Trade this week.