Edward Said (November 1, 1935 — died September 25, 2003) was a Palestinian American scholar, political advocate, and literary critic. He explored literature through the lens of social and cultural politics and was a vocal supporter of Palestinian political rights and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. His first book, Joseph Conrad and the Fiction of Autobiography (1966), expanded on his doctoral dissertation and analyzed Conrad's short stories and letters, focusing on the cultural dynamics involved in beginning a literary or academic work. Said became a full professor in 1969, received his first endowed chair in 1977, and published his most famous work, Orientalism, in 1978. This book, one of the most significant scholarly works of the 20th century, critiqued Western academic views of the "Orient," particularly the Arab Islamic world. Said, though an Arab Christian, argued that early Western scholarship in the region was biased, creating a distorted and stereotypical image of the "other" that justified and supported colonialism. Besides his academic and political achievements, Said was also a skilled musician and pianist.

Fadwa Tuqan (1917 – December 12, 2003) was a prominent Palestinian poet whose life under Israeli occupation deeply influenced her work. After the 1948 Nakba and the 1967 war, her poetry became a powerful voice of resistance, addressing the hardships of exile, displacement, and the oppression faced by Palestinians. Her collections, such as "Give Us Our Daily Bread" and "The Night and the Horsemen", reflect her defiance against Israeli occupation. Despite personal and national struggles, she became a symbol of cultural resilience, earning several awards for her contributions to Palestinian literature.

Ghassan Kanafani (April 9, 1936 – July 8, 1972) was a prominent Palestinian writer, journalist, and political activist, born in Acre in 1936. After his family fled Jaffa during the 1948 Nakba, he lived in exile in Lebanon and Syria, where he worked various jobs while continuing his education. He became involved in the Arab Nationalist Movement and later played a key role in founding the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Kanafani became its spokesperson and editor of the group's magazine, al-Hadaf, and was assassinated by Israeli Mossad in 1972. Kanafani is celebrated for his literary contributions, particularly his novels, short stories, and plays that often highlighted the Palestinian struggle and human suffering. His works, such as Men in the Sun and Returning to Haifa, are widely regarded for their portrayal of exile, resistance, and identity, and have been translated into multiple languages. His assassination at a young age marked him as a symbol of cultural and political resistance for Palestinians, and his legacy continues through his extensive body of work.