Gessen Gets German Prize Amid Controversial Gaza-Nazi Comparison

Russian American writer Masha Gessen, sits during the presentation of the Hannah Arendt Prize, in event room F61, in Bremen, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Gessen has received a German literary pri

In an enchanting twist of ironical contrast, the incredibly compelling Russian-American author Masha Gessen received the prestigious German literary accolade, sparking an intense debate along the way. This wasn't your everyday award ceremony, no grandiloquent speeches or champagne popping, rather the ceremony was a muted event, toned down due to a contentious article penned by Gessen herself in the esteemed New Yorker.

Peeling back the layers of controversy, it was discovered that Gessen, an individual of Jewish heritage herself, had compared Gaza to Nazi German ghettos, a comparison that evoked ferocious reactions in Germany and beyond. In Germany, bearing the scars of a mournful history and harboring an earnest desire not to repeat the past, the government holds strong support for Israel, a commitment rooted deeply in the horrors of Adolf Hitler's execution of up to 6 million Jews in the Holocaust.

A sizzling hotspot in the sprawling landscape of global politics, the Israel-Palestine issue has been the epicenter of debates, protests, and demonstrations in Germany, placing the country and its leaders on a procedural tightrope. Amid a society grappling with questions on the recent Israel-Hamas war, this comparison by Gessen proved to be a firestarter, leading to the original events venue to withdraw from hosting the ceremony.

Russian American writer Masha Gessen, right, attends the presentation of the Hannah Arendt Prize in event room F61, in Bremen, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Gessen has received a German literary prize in a ceremony that was delayed and scaled down in reaction to an article comparing Gaza to Nazi German ghettoes in a recent article. The comparison was viewed as controversial in Germany, which strongly supports Israeli as a form of remorse and responsibility for murdering up to 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. (Focke Strangmann/dpa via AP)

Russian American writer Masha Gessen, sits during the presentation of the Hannah Arendt Prize, in event room F61, in Bremen, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Gessen has received a German literary prize in a ceremony that was delayed and scaled down in reaction to an article comparing Gaza to Nazi German ghettoes in a recent article. The comparison was viewed as controversial in Germany, which strongly supports Israeli as a form of remorse and responsibility for murdering up to 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. (Focke Strangmann/dpa via AP)

Russian American writer Masha Gessen, speaksat the presentation of the Hannah Arendt Prize. in event room F61, in Bremen, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Gessen has received a German literary prize in a ceremony that was delayed and scaled down in reaction to an article comparing Gaza to Nazi German ghettoes in a recent article. The comparison was viewed as controversial in Germany, which strongly supports Israeli as a form of remorse and responsibility for murdering up to 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. (Focke Strangmann/dpa via AP)

Russian American writer Masha Gessen, poses for a photo after receiving the Hannah Arendt Prize. in event room F61, in Bremen, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Gessen has received a German literary prize in a ceremony that was delayed and scaled down in reaction to an article comparing Gaza to Nazi German ghettoes in a recent article. The comparison was viewed as controversial in Germany, which strongly supports Israeli as a form of remorse and responsibility for murdering up to 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. (Focke Strangmann/dpa via AP)

As the news spread fast across German society, the dusk of the controversy saw the award ceremony moving to a new location, a compact event room filled with an intimate crowd of approximately 50 thoughtful attendees. A chilling echo of the tension was heard as police security stood on guard during the event.

At the heart of the controversy was Gessen's article titled 'In the Shadow of the Holocaust.' An intricate exploration of Germany's history with the Holocaust and the free and open debate on Israel, Gessen also critiques Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Drawing startling parallels, Gessen hails Gaza as a Jewish ghetto in an Eastern European country occupied by Nazi Germany, a chilling comparison given the history of liquidation of such ghettos during World War II.

The comparison was vehemently rejected by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, an influential organization affiliated with Germany's Green party. Despite the furor, the jury decided to uphold the award - a nod to Gessen's profound critique of Russian President Vladimir Putin and audacious political thought, deeply reminiscent of the celebrated scholar Hannah Arendt.

Unheard in the allegations and defense, Gessen remains silent but previously defended her stance in an interview with Politico, advocating for the 'morally necessary' and 'politically necessary' need of such an uneasy comparison.

A tryst with controversy, a bold article and ensuing ceremony, but amid all, a bonafide commitment to the tradition of Hannah Arendt, to contribute deeply to public political thought, is what sets apart Masha Gessen's award achievement. A momentous event indeed, one that shakes our minds, but leaves a trail of thought provoking insights in its wake.