Palestinians have been resisting the Israeli occupation for decades through various means. Here we share two notable expressions of Palestinian resistance: sumud and art. Through these forms of resistance, Palestinians have been able to express their opposition to the occupation through the celebration of their culture and collective strength.
Sumud, or steadfastness, is a Palestinian concept that refers to the resilience and determination of the Palestinian people to remain on their land and to resist the Israeli occupation. It is a form of resistance that involves staying in one place and refusing to leave, despite the obstacles and challenges that come with living under occupation. Palestinians have shown sumud in various ways, such as refusing to sell their land to Israeli settlers, rebuilding their homes after they have been demolished by Israeli authorities, and continuing to farm their land despite restrictions and harassment by Israeli soldiers.
From the Walled Off Hotel Museum: The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem is an art hotel and museum that was set up and funded by Banksy. It includes an art gallery featuring Palestinian art and a museum on the biography of the wall.
“Because flags were confiscated during protests, women responded by embroidering the Palestinian flag and silhouettes of the country in repeated patterns on their dresses.”
Art has been a powerful tool for Palestinian resistance. It has been used to express the Palestinian story and to challenge the Israeli occupation.
The Art of Resistance in the Palestinian Struggle Against Israel.pdf
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