Apeirogon is based on the true stories of two fathers on opposite sides of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Rami Elhanan, an Israeli, loses his daughter Smadar in a suicide bombing in Jerusalem. Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian, loses his daughter Abir, who is killed by an Israeli border police officer. Both men are devastated by their losses, but they eventually meet through a bereaved families’ peace group.
Despite coming from opposing backgrounds, they form a deep friendship built on shared grief and a desire to end the cycle of violence. Together, they begin speaking out for peace and reconciliation.
The novel is uniquely structured in 1,001 short fragments, blending storytelling, historical facts, and reflections. This fragmented form reflects the complexity and many perspectives of conflict.