Palestinian symbols: Handala (left), Kufiya (middle), Key of Return (right) Mariam Jaber
The Palestinian cause has many famous symbols, but have you ever wondered what they mean and what their origins are? Most recently, the watermelon has taken the spotlight to combat online censorship, as it has the same colors of the Palestinian flag: black, red, white, and green.
Other symbols that may be overlooked by non-Palestinians or those new to the cause are Handala, the famous Kufiya, and the Key of Return.
Handala
Handala is a 10-year-old refugee boy that was forced out of his homeland, Palestine, during the 1948 Palestinian catastrophe called the “Nakba” in Arabic. His back is turned against the world just as the world turned its back on him.
Handala is pictured barefoot and with patchy clothes to symbolize that he fled Palestine with nothing else but the clothes on his back.
Handala will remain 10-years-old until the Israeli occupation is over and he can return to his home in Palestine.
Handala symbolizes Palestinian that was forced into exile and barred from returning to their homeland. I relate him to my grandmother who left her village of Deir Yassin in northwest Jerusalem when she was only 9-years-old.
Handala was drawn by Palestinian artist Naji Al-Ali, who became a refugee at 10-years-old when he left Palestine during the Nakba. It’s worth mentioning that the Israeli Mosaad assassinated Al-Ali in London in 1987 for being critical of Israel in his political cartoons that included Handala. Despite not being in violation of any laws and simply exercising free speech, he was still ruthlessly killed.
May God Rest his soul.
Kufiya
The kufiya has recently become a very popular symbol of Palestinian resistance and solidarity due to the genocide of Gaza, despite being around for decades.
The designs on the kufiya, or as we locals like to call it, a hatta, all stand for and mean different things pertaining to Palestine.
The thick bold stripes symbolize the trade routes for Palestine.
The dot-looking design symbolizes fishnets and the fishing culture in Palestine. Due to sitting on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Palestine is very famous for the amazing seafood and fishing culture.
The other design on the hatta that goes around its border signifies olive leaves. Olive trees originate in Palestine and Palestine is home to the oldest olive tree in the world dating back 5,000 years in Al-Walaja.
The hatta became a symbol of resistance back in 1936 during the Great Palestinian revolution against the British Mandate.
At that time, most of the resistance fighters were farmers, or “falaheen” in Arabic. Since the farmers were the only ones who would wear the hatta, ,it was easier for the British to catch them.
As a sign of solidarity and to make it more difficult for British authorities to catch resistance fighters, every Palestinian, farmer or not, would wear a hatta.
Since 1936, the kufiya/hatta has been seen as a sign of resistance and solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Key of Return
The Key of Return symbolizes the keys to Palestinian homes. During the Nakba in 1948, many Palestinians took the keys to their homes thinking they would return soon within a week or month at the most. Many did not realize that they would not return even after 76 years.
There are over 6 million Palestinian refugees that live in exile and refugee camps inside Palestine. They are all barred from returning to their homes and are not allowed to exercise their right of return.
The Key of Return has turned into an iconic symbol of hope and is featured in many Palestinian artwork, and even Palestinian embroidery called tatreez.
The key can also be seen in most Palestinian homes and symbolizes that no matter how long it takes, Palestinians will inevitably return to their homes and that Palestine will be free.
Each one of these beautiful symbols have very deep and emotional ties to the Palestinian cause. Next time you see one online, in art, or decoration, remember that although they might have a sad background, they are filled with hope and are symbols of hope for Palestinians everywhere that dream of liberation.
Free Palestine.