Historian Gil Marks is cited for the history of the pita falafel sandwich.
Marks wrote that the pita sandwich became popular after Israel’s independence, particularly during the 1950s, when Jewish Yemeni refugees helped popularize falafel served in bread. His account focuses on the spread of the sandwich format rather than claiming that falafel itself began in Israel.
The historical record also contains an earlier reference: The Palestine Post mentioned falafels served in pita as street food on October 19, 1939. That makes the development of the sandwich more complicated than a single invention story, since the documented appearance predates the later wave of popularization.
Falafel’s ingredients and serving styles also vary across the region. It may be made from chickpeas or fava beans and served in pita with vegetables, pickles, and tahini. Gil Marks is the cited historian here; the other names are prominent food writers, not the source identified for this particular claim.