Jehad Abusalim is from the city of Deir el-Balah in the Gaza Strip, where he grew up and lived for most of his life. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Hebrew and Judaic Studies and History joint program at New York University. His research focuses on Palestinian and Arab writings and perceptions of the Zionist project before 1948.

An accomplished speaker and writer, Jehad combines his passion for Palestinian history with his commitment to activism and policy change. In 2022, he co-edited the anthology Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire, published by Haymarket Books. His work has been featured in the Washington Post, Al-Jazeera, The Nation, Journal of Palestine Studies, and Vox, among other publications. Jehad has also appeared on Al-Jazeera, CNN, ABC, TRT World, Democracy Now!, and numerous radio stations and podcasts in the United States and beyond.

Jehad is currently the Executive Director of the Institute for Palestine Studies-USA in Washington, DC. Prior to joining IPS-USA, Jehad served as the Executive Director of The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development.