In order to understand the modern history of Palestine, it is not enough to look at wars, treaties or diplomatic developments. Because the Palestinian people described the pain and hopes he has experienced with words, images and symbols. The concept of “Sumud ;; In other words, commitment to the roots, patience and existence insist on these symbols.
Hanzala’s back From the figure to the longing for the dormitory carried by the key; It is part of Palestine’s resistance memory, from the red, black, green and white colors of the watermelon to the tissue of the shroud. In this article, we will in -depth the meanings and stories of Palestine’s symbols.
Sumud: Resistance attachment to the roots
In Arabic “Sebat, resistance, standing” means sumudIs the basic concept of Palestinian resistance. In spite of the occupation, exile and compulsory migration, it refers to the will of the people to be attached to the territory, identity and culture. Sumud; Patience, stubbornness and hope is a attitude of existence. For the Palestinians, this concept represents both a political resistance and to adhere to the land in daily life, to protect the family and to maintain cultural memory.
Hanzala: The rebellion of the child who turned his back
Palestinian cartoonist Naci al-Ali’s lines Hanzalais a small child with his hands connected from behind, with bare feet and facing back. Hanzala is the symbol of conscience that has turned his back to the world. Children’s childhood of Palestine; The fact that he does not show his face symbolizes the protest against oppression and injustice. Today, Hanzala is not just a cartoon character; It is the universal symbol of stance in front of the occupation.
Watermelon: Colors of the banned flag
For a period, the opening of the Palestinian flag was forbidden. People, The colors of the flag watermelon slice carried with. With its red, green shell, black seeds and white line, watermelon reinstated the Palestinian flag. Thus, an ordinary fruit turned into a symbol of identity and resistance. Today, watermelon motif continues to live in many areas from wall paintings to art works.
Key: Hope of Return
In 1948 Nekbe (Big Disaster) Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian houses were deported. Refugees, who could not return to their homes, took the keys of their households. These keys became the symbol of the right to return by transferring from generation to generation. Today, many Palestinian families are proudly hiding that rusty key from their grandfathers.
Kefiye: Covering of Identity and Solidarity
Black-and-white patterned kefiyeIs the best known symbol of Palestine. Initially, this cover, which farmers wore to protect the sun, has become the symbol of resistance since the mid -20th century. The patterns are not only aesthetics, but also meaning: black lines represent the boundaries of the fields and fish network patterns represent life. Black-and-white Kefiye symbolizes the West Bank, and the red-white symbolizes Jordan and Gaza-related struggle.
Olive Tree: Life integrated with soil
With its thousands of years of history olive treeIs one of the most powerful symbols in Palestine. Refers to peace, fertility and patience. For the Palestinians, the olive tree symbolizes loyalty to the roots and clinging to the soil. Olive groves burned or cut during the occupation are not only agriculture; It also means identity and memory loss. Therefore, the olive tree is kept as a symbol of both fertility and resistance.
Orange: The efficiency of the soil and the memory of Jaffa
Orange, especially “Navel orange” (Jaffa Orange) and one of the important symbols of Palestinian identity. These oranges, which were exported around the world at the beginning of the 20th century, represent the fertile land of Palestine and its agricultural richness. After 1948, the Jawa Orange, along with the seized lands, has become a powerful cultural symbol that symbolizes the lost homeland and the hope of return.
Spoon: The road excavated for freedom
One of the modern symbols of Palestinian resistance is a spoon. 6 Prison Palestinians managed to dig and escape the tunnel from Israel’s High Security Gilboa Prison, using only spoons, and thus symbolized freedom and determination. Israeli officials have determined that the 22 -meter -long tunnel was excavated in about 6 months.
Cactus: Patiently Resisting Earth
The Palestinians have planted cactuses around the village as natural barriers to protect their villages for centuries. However, when the villages were demolished and occupied during the nekbe in 1948, these cactuses were far from their owners.
Cactus that can survive in dry and challenging conditions, Symbols of patience and durability in Palestinian culture; In Arabic, this is called “patience .. With the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians after Nekbe, cactus became the symbol of both resistance and determination, reminding people to be patient and resistant.
Zahter: Palestine’s symbol in the taste of resistance
ZahterIt is a mixture of widely used in Middle East cuisine; It consists of components such as thyme, partridge, sesame seeds and sumac. In Palestine, not only a food material, but also symbolizes identity and cultural resistance.
While the Palestinians have experienced occupation and migration experiences for many years, they have maintained their rooted traditions by using the Zahter in both daily tables and social rituals. The simple but durable structure of the Zahter has gained a metaphorical meaning symbolizing the patience and resistance of the Palestinian people.
Today, Zahter is seen as a symbol representing Palestine’s original identity and cultural heritage; Sharing at the tables is also interpreted as an expression of a shared resistance consciousness.
Nakba and naksa: memory of the disaster
Nakba (1948): A great disaster of the Palestinians. The forced migration of hundreds of thousands of people, the evacuation and demolition of villages.
NAKSA (1967): The second major loss of Palestine after the six -day war; The occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Hills.
These two concepts left deep wounds in the historical memory of the Palestinian people and engraved in the language of resistance.
Intifada: People’s uprising
The first starting in 1987 Intifadathe symbol of the children throwing stones were engraved in memory. In the second intifada in 2000, there was a new public resistance against the heavy pressure of the occupation. The word “intifada” is in Arabic “Shaking, shakes” and expresses that the Palestinian people attempt against the occupation.
Dabke: Dance of Resistance
Dabke, It is the traditional folk dance of the Middle East; However, it has become a symbol of cultural resistance in Palestine. This dance, which is held collectively hand in hand, symbolizes the spirit of unity and the will of standing together.
Sabra and Şatilla: Unforgettable massacre
In Lebanon in 1982 SABRA AND SATALLA The massacre in the refugee camps left an indelible trace in the memory of the Palestinian people. These names are still mentioned and reminded today as the symbol of the persecution.
Resistance and hope hidden in symbols
Palestine’s symbols are not only folkloric or artistic elements; It has been the language of the existence of a people, losses, hopes and resistance. Sumud’s devotion to the roots, Hanzala’s back, the childhood of the watermelon, the banned flag colors of the watermelon, the hope of the switch, the identity cover of the kefiya, the patience of the olive tree, the shrinkage of the intifada, the spirit of the Dab.
These symbols are not only the past; It also carries the belief in the future. The Palestinian people continue to convey their identity and the spirit of resistance to the world by protecting cultural memory through these images.
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