The Key, the Olive Tree and Handala: Symbols of Palestinian Memory
Some symbols explain a whole history at a glance. For Palestinians, three of the most powerful are an old iron key, the olive tree and a small cartoon boy with his back to the world. Here is what each one means.
The key
When hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes in 1948, an event Palestinians call the Nakba, many locked their doors and took the keys with them, expecting to return within weeks. Those keys were passed down through generations. Today the key stands for the right of return, and you will see it on murals, necklaces and at the entrance to Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, where a giant key sculpture stands over the gate.
The olive tree
Olive trees can live for hundreds, even thousands of years, and many Palestinian families have tended the same groves for generations. The tree stands for rootedness, patience and sumud, or steadfastness. The yearly harvest is a family event, which we wrote about in our guide to the Palestinian olive harvest.
Handala
Handala is a barefoot ten-year-old refugee boy drawn by the Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali, who first published him in 1969. He always stands with his back to the viewer and his hands clasped behind him. Al-Ali said Handala would only turn around when Palestinians could return home. Naji al-Ali was shot in London in 1987 and died weeks later, but Handala lives on in street art and on protest banners around the world.
Why symbols matter
Symbols carry memory from one generation to the next. They let people who have never been to Palestine understand something about its story, and they let Palestinians in the diaspora keep that story close.
Our Exist. Resist. Return. design was made in that spirit, together with our Palestine Map and Palestine Hope pieces.
FAQ
+Why is the key a symbol of Palestine?
Many Palestinians who fled or were expelled in 1948 kept the keys to their homes. The key has become a symbol of the right of return.
+What does the olive tree symbolise for Palestinians?
The olive tree stands for rootedness, patience and steadfastness, known in Arabic as sumud.
+Who created Handala?
Handala was created by Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali and first appeared in 1969.
+Why does Handala have his back turned?
Naji al-Ali said Handala would only turn around when Palestinians were able to return home.
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