Decolonizing the Blue Humanities: The Palestinian Journey of Displacement, Expulsion and Homelessness in Susan Abulhawa’s The Blue Between Sky and Water

Oceanic and riverine spaces, represented by the River Suqreir and the Gaza Sea in Susan Abulhawa’s The Blue Between Sky and Water , symbolize identity formation, life, freedom, and the Palestinian connection to the homeland. However, these waterscapes are marred by the violence of occupation, turning these aquatic areas into reminders of death, loss, and trauma. This article examines Abulhawa’s creative renditions of the River Suqreir and the Gaza Sea, highlighting the impact of Palestinian displacement on these natural landscapes. By analyzing significant motifs associated with the river and sea, this article posits that both the River Suqreir and the Gaza Sea reflect the passage of time, the cyclical nature of existence, the resilience of the Palestinian people, and crucially, their plight of homelessness and dislocation. In the face of expulsion, displacement, and homelessness, the motifs and symbols of the river and sea encapsulate the self-discovery, hope, and resilience of Beit Daras villagers, while safeguarding their memories and protecting Palestinian history from erasure and forgetfulness. This article extends and hence globalizes the concept of blue humanities, primarily focusing on the relationship between waterscapes and modern Western cultures, to the tragedy of the Palestinians and their connection to aquatic features.