Fishnet: The larger part of the keffiyeh is the fishnet pattern which resembles the fishnet, and the relationship between the Palestinian fisherman and the sea. It symbolizes abundance and grace.

To many of us the sea also means Freedom – this is especially true for Palestinians living in the West Bank who have no access to the sea due to restricted movement.

Sea Waves: Resemble the strength, and resilience of our communities which persevered after 73 years under military occupation and oppression. Some posts on social media wrote that the resemblance comes from the olive leaves which are also an important symbol, but after a conversation with the Judeh Hirbawi from Hirbawi Factory in Hebron he said that it comes from sea waves.

Bold borders: Represent the trade routes going through Palestine which played a vital role in carving the history and rich and diverse culture of our communities.

Learn more at: HandmadePalestine.com and Hirbawiusa.com

Palestine holds some of the world’s oldest olive trees, some of them tracing back almost 5,000 years. It is customary for families to pass down olive trees to their children and grandchildren, entrusting future generations to look after them. The trees have become deeply important for Palestinian heritage, mirroring the history of the country, with their strong roots symbolising the Palestinian connection to their homeland. The trees are frequently depicted in artwork, with their roots and branches illustrating the pain of being displaced and uprooted from their land due to occupation and settler colonialism. At the same time, the olives and leaves represent hope and Palestinian heritage. Every year, particularly during October and November, families and farmers gather for the olive-picking season, a practice which has been carried out for generations. The process is called “al Ouna”, which means helping each other to harvest the same trees as their ancestors.  Although tiring, the olive-harvesting season is enjoyed by Palestinians as it brings together people in the community and is a source of income.

Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish penned famous lines about them: “If the olive trees knew the hands that planted them / Their oil would become tears.”  

Learn more at: MiddleEastEye.net and Aljazeera.com

For many Palestinians, the Lemon tree and its fruit are a weapon of great and historic resistance. Lemon juice and the fruit itself is often used in Palestinian cuisine.

Learn more at: Isqineeha.Tumblr.com and MiddleEastBooks.com

Jaffa oranges are a symbol of Palestinian identity and ancestral homeland. Arab farmers developed the Jaffa orange in the 19th century as a mutation of the Baladi variety near Jaffa, Palestine. The oranges are known for their sweetness, thick skin, and lack of seeds, making them easy to peel and export. Before the 1948 Nakba, or catastrophe, when Israel was created and over 750,000 Palestinians were expelled, Jaffa oranges were a major export for Palestinian farmers and businessmen. Jaffa was also one of the world’s largest orange export ports from the late 19th century until 1970.

In Palestine, oranges can symbolize loss, including the loss of Palestine, orange groves, life, and nationhood. In his 1958 short story The Land of Sad Oranges, Palestinian novelist Ghassan Kanafani uses oranges to represent loss.

Learn more at: “The Land of Sad Oranges” Presentation, Nomad4Now.com , Aljazeera and LATimes.com

The poppy anemona (Anemone coronaria), also known as the Palestinian poppy or Spanish marigold, is a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean region. It is common in sunlit areas throughout most of Palestine, and often creates red carpets seen from afar. Flowering occurs from January to March, peaking in February. The poppy is the national flower of Palestine and symbolizes the Palestinian people’s resilience and enduring spirit. It also represents the colors of the Palestinian flag: red, green, black, and white. In Palestinian cultural representations, the poppy flower symbolizes the sacrifice of martyrs (Fida’i, Shahid, or Istishhadi) embedded in the land. It also symbolizes bitter memories of bloodshed during wars and is often depicted in Palestinian art and literature.

Learn more at: Kitanyaharrison.Medium.com, TandFOnline.com, UMMAH.com

While the exact history of watermelon symbolism in Palestinian history is not locally and universally agreed upon, renowned Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour says the idea of the watermelon’s connection with the Palestinian flag came from an Israeli soldier who was trying to censor his gallery in the 1980s. “We are not allowed to make an exhibition unless we get the permission from them to exhibit the works, and we are not allowed to paint in red, green, black and white. These are the colors of the Palestinian flag.”  Isam Bader, another artist in the Palestinian gallery, asked the Israeli official what would happen if he drew a flower with those colors? Mansour described the mood changing in the room. “Then the interrogator said they will confiscate it. Even if you paint a watermelon, we will confiscate it,” he recalled.  Mansour explained the banning only inspired further resistance. “This created the kind of sensation among artists, you know, like forbidding artists to paint in certain colors,” he said. “So we had a lot of support from many artists from around the world and also from Israeli artists.”

The symbol of the dove has been used in different kinds of arts until it became a universal symbol. The Palestinian artists who suffered and are still suffering from the occupation, torture and arrest, use this symbol to convey the meanings of peace, freedom and future. The dove with its peaceful shape, color, quietness and softness was the best qualified figure to convey this message. The symbol of the Dove is depicted in different ways depending on the artist’s technique and the message that the artist wants to transfer to the world. In many art works it is used in combination with other symbols and in different compositions.

The Palestine sunbird was declared the national bird of Palestine in 2015 after the Israeli occupation authorities tried to change its name in their efforts to erase Palestinian identity. . . The Palestine sunbird not only carries the country’s name but also symbolizes Palestinian natural heritage. Wildlife societies in Palestine and independent researchers have done a great job in raising awareness of the existence of this marvelous bird by creating or participating in competitions that aim to document and honor the Palestine sunbird. Although birding, writing, or painting can be seen as simple means of expression, they are, in fact, very powerful in confronting any force that tries to erase our existence. Palestinian poet Tamim Al-Barghouti tied resistance to beauty, saying, “Whenever you face injustice or roughness, remember to defend yourself by finding beauty … document, prove, and defend it because all beauty is resistance.”