Palestine 103: Decoding Resistance Symbols
Watermelons, olive branches, keys, poppies, etc.
Welcome to Palestine 103! This is the third post in our series meant to provide introductory information on the history, culture, and politics of Palestine. If you’ve wanted to learn more about the situation in Palestine but have felt confused or overwhelmed by the amount of information out there, this series is for you!
In this edition, we will decode some common symbols of Palestinian resistance that you may come across in Palestinian activist spaces!
Palestinian Flag
The flag is the most obvious symbol of Palestinian liberation. The black, green, red, and white flag was adopted and modified from the design created for the 1918 Arab revolt, and was raised for the first time as the Palestinian flag in 1920. The current iteration of the flag was adopted by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1965 and has remained the same since.
Watermelon
After the 1967 Naksa, the Israeli occupation banned the Palestinian flag in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Because the watermelon shares the same colors as the flag, it was used as a replacement symbol of Palestinian resistance. It is now used concurrently with other symbols, though sometimes you see the use of the watermelon in place of the flag online as an attempt to avoid social media shadowbanning.
Olive Branch
Olive trees are a deeply important symbol to Palestinians, representing the idea of sumud, or “steadfastness” in connection to the land and resilience in the face of Zionist occupation. Olive trees can live for hundreds of years, and the fall olive harvest season sustains tens of thousands of Palestinian farmers and their families. Since 1967, Israeli forces have destroyed 800,000 olive trees as an intentional attempt to strip Palestinians of their culture and livelihood.
Red Triangle
Though it has been in use prior to October 7th, the upside-down red triangle has become an increasingly popular symbol of Palestinian resistance in the last 10 months. The red triangle has been used in videos by Palestinian resistance groups to indicate Israeli military targets, and it is also present on the Palestinian flag.
Key
The key (sometimes called the key of return) represents the Palestinian right of return. When Palestinians were forced out of their homes in the 1948 Nakba, many were told that they would be able to come back later and kept the keys to their houses. In some families, these original keys have been passed down from generation to generation as a symbol of hope that Palestinians will one day be able to return to their homes/homeland.
Poppy
While used as a symbol of WWI remembrance in Great Britain, the red poppy is often considered to be one of the national flowers of Palestine and so is also frequently seen as a symbol of Palestinian resilience and connection to the land. In 2013 Israel appropriated the poppy as its national flower, but the poppy’s red, green, and black colors forever associate the flower with the Palestinian flag.
Keffiyeh/Kufiya
The keffiyeh is a traditional scarf worn across many different Arab countries. The keffiyeh first became a symbol of resistance during the 1936 Arab revolt against British Rule, and since then has been strongly associated with Palestinian liberation. The version associated with Palestine is most commonly black and white, and contains 3 different symbolic patterns. The bold lines represent historic trade routes that ran through Palestine, olive leaves resemble Palestinian olive trees, and the fishnet symbolizes the connection to the sea and the history of Palestinian subsistence fishermen.
Handala
Handala is a cartoon character that was created by Naji al-Ali, and is a representation of his own experience as a childhood refugee as well as that of others who the Israeli occupation has displaced. He is barefoot and in tattered clothes with his back turned to the viewer as a symbol of how al-Ali felt that the world turned its back on Palestinians.
Slingshot
The slingshot represents Palestinian stone-throwing, a protest tactic in which Palestinians combat Israeli occupation by throwing rocks at soldiers, tanks, or other targets. Stone throwing has been prevalent throughout the history of Palestine, and today the slingshot serves as a symbol of both military inequity between Palestine and the IOF and of the Palestinian commitment to resistance against Zionist occupation.
Dove
Doves, often white and sometimes depicted with olive branches in their mouths, are a common symbol across many different cultures. When used in Palestinian artwork, doves serve as a symbol of peace, freedom, and hope for the future.
Spoon
The spoon is a less common and more recent symbol of Palestinian resistance, as it first popped up only several years ago. In September of 2021, six prisoners escaped an Israeli jail by digging a tunnel using spoons, plates, and other utensils. While the prisoners were eventually recaptured, their escape from a high-security prison using such simple tools has made the spoon representative of Palestinian resilience, grit, and determination
V Sign/“Peace” Sign
The origin of the V hand sign, made with two fingers up and the palm facing out, is somewhat disputed. The most popular belief is that it is adopted from Winston Churchill’s “V for victory”. Regardless of where the sign came from, it is used across Palestine to symbolize a hope for future victory over Israeli occupation.
Did we miss any symbols you’ve been curious about? Shoot us a message or leave a comment and we will be happy to help!
