'Occupied Territories' Book Review

A Book review of 'Occupied Territories' by Fabio Bucciarelli Published in ZEKE Magazine, Fall 2025.

Link to Published Article

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A burdened sigh of relief exhaled across the Middle East. Following two years of relentless conflict, Hamas and Israel brokered a ceasefire deal, offering a precarious moment of respite amidst Palestinian suffering. However, in its promise of celebration and harmony, this moment’s enthusiasm feels tainted with uncertainty. Despite recent optimism with the return of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, with the promises of demilitarization and Israeli troop withdrawal, and with the restoration of aid and commitment to rebuilding, many are skeptical that this ceasefire is the end of a long history of Israeli occupation. The cessation of current violence, while welcome, feels tenuous given the weight of history, as ceasefires and promises have proven untenable since 1948. Peace has long remained elusive. Italian photographer Fabio Bucciarelli is one of many voices who remind us of the many years of unimaginable loss– the many lives that were sacrificed, children murdered, elders starved, hospitals bombed, activists detained, olive trees excavated, families displaced, and homes reduced to mere rubble. It is in this light that Bucciarelli’s Occupied Territories offers an insight into the recurrence of Israeli incursions and occupations, understanding the precariousness of this current flurry of diplomatic success. 

Few have captured Israel’s longstanding occupation and the profound human cost it continues to exact, with the depth and persistence of photojournalist Bucciarelli. For over a decade, Bucciarelli followed Israel’s occupation across Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. His culminating photo book, does not seek to politicize suffering or cast accusation, but instead stands as a testament to the recurring violence, displacement, and loss, offering a profoundly human lens through which to understand and empathize with the consequences of occupation. Bucciarelli’s book comprehensively tracks the history of Israeli occupation, exposing that the current conflict is not an isolated war but rather a continuation of decades of systematic oppression. Published in 2025, Occupied Territories bridges the past and present, reminding viewers that today’s grief is rooted in a long and deliberate history. 

Occupied Territories is divided into three sections, each with a distinct identity, guided by color and geographical focus. The use of color, or rather the lack thereof, appoints each section with a visual identity, reflecting the experiences of occupation within their given region. Following an introduction by Fabio Tonacci and an interview with Andrea Tinterri, the first section examines the occupation in the West Bank and is presented in black-and-white. The monochrome imbues a profound stillness and gravity to the images: resistance fighters assembling, women mourning, people returning to prayer, and elders, who have long witnessed the enduring occupation, tending to the olive tree gardens.

The subsequent section, documenting the occupation of Gaza, alternates between black-and-white and color images, creating visual pauses while amplifying the emotional intensity and spirit of Palestinian resistance. To create distinction beyond color, Bucciarelli incorporates pinhole photographs: a characteristic of his work, serving as a visual transition and break within the immediacy of the surrounding images. The images in this section capture clashes at the Israeli-Gaza border, ceremonies honoring the murder of journalists, and the raw grief of families recovering loved ones from beneath the rubble. They are charged with resistance, their intimacy laid bare, literally to the bones. 

The final section on Lebanon, color dominates, creating a visual climax that mirrors the intensity and dissonance of occupation– explosions, bombardment, death, and devastation– all documented in vivid, unrelenting detail. The images are explosive, their hues amplifying the intensity of grief and emotion. You can almost hear the weeping mothers and the shifting of rubble, you can feel the crowds congregating, and smell the ash and dust. As a young Lebanese woman raises her hand to cover her nose, you too cover yours– an example of how images forge genuine connections and encourage natural empathy.

Dedicated “to those who never stop fighting for freedom, [and] to those who lost their lives pursuing it,” this work transcends a mere photographic account; it becomes an archive of memory and resistance, documenting humanitarian crimes and disproportionate violence while honoring the enduring resilience and defiance of Palestinians. The images alone are intimate, provocative, tender, heartbreaking, and beautiful all at once and together form a profound and comprehensive portrait of occupation– not only in its historical and geographical dimensions but in its deep and lasting impact on the lives, identities, and future of a Palestine free from further Israeli occupation.