More than a year into the conflict in Gaza, which has spread to other regions and claimed the lives of more than 42,000 Palestinians, thousands worldwide continue to rally in solidarity, proudly displaying symbols many now associate with what they call the resistance.

The heart of the Palestinian struggle lies in a tapestry of these symbols, woven with history, hope and resilience. These symbols are not mere artifacts; but embody the spirit of a people determined to assert their identity amidst adversity.

Probably one of the most recognizable symbols of resistance is the keffiyeh — also spelled kuffiya — an iconic black-and-white square-shaped scarf draped around the shoulders of countless Palestinians and allies.

Once a garment worn by farmers, the keffiyeh has transformed into a symbol of resistance. Worn by leaders like Yasser Arafat, who led peace efforts in the Middle East that eventually resulted in the signing of the Oslo Accords, the keffiyeh transcends fashion and is seen as both a declaration of identity and a cry for freedom. The woven pattern itself symbolizes years of history and culture with olive-leaves, fishnets and a bold pattern harkening back to Palestine’s rich history.

The scarf was first worn as an act of resistance to represent Arab nationalism in the 1930s during the Arab Revolt against British colonial rule and gained further popularity when Arafat wore it as a head covering when resisting Israeli occupation in 1967 when the Palestinian Liberation Organization was first formed. Today, Palestinians and allies alike wear it to openly stand against Israeli occupation.

The most obvious form of resistance in the Palestinian struggle is the flag itself. Featuring black, white, green and red horizontal stripes, with a black triangle on the left, the flag symbolizes Palestinian nationalism and unity. The colors are often associated with different meanings including white for peace, green for land, red for the blood shed in the Arab struggle and black for unity. The colors represent historical and cultural aspects of the Arab struggle.

Due to the flag being historically banned across the Gaza Strip, occupied lands and Israel, the watermelon symbol — with its similar colors — quickly gained popularity over the years as a stand-in symbol of resistance and solidarity.

“Today, watermelons have evolved into a public symbol of resistance and cultural pride, portrayed in artworks that represent the ongoing struggle against the apartheid,” artist Dai Abbas told Reckon.

Abbas is a self-taught 28-year-old Egyptian artist who expresses herself creatively through her art. With a focus on surrealism, she seeks to evoke emotions and forge deep connections with her audience.

The symbolism can be traced back to the 1960s, first emerging after the Six-Day War, when Israel seized control of the West Bank and Gaza and annexed East Jerusalem, TIME Magazine reported.

The colors of the watermelon and its use in Middle Eastern cuisine made it a fitting symbol for Palestine. According to Bon Appetit, research on the fruit shows it is indigenous to Northern Africa and was often used in religious tithes along with figs, grapes and pomegranates.

Social media resurfaced the watermelon emoji trend in 2021 when grassroots Palestinian activism soared online. The fruit is also posted by many who are fearful of Israeli surveillance online or are trying to avoid unfavorable algorithms and content bans.

“You have a new Palestinian generation. Seventy percent are under the age of 30 [in the West Bank and Gaza], where social media and digital tools are their main source of inspiration and their main access to the world,” said Fadi Quran, a Ramallah-based campaign director at Avaaz.

He added: “People need to use social media to spread the word about what’s happening here, so that’s led to a broad range of tactics … to overcome digital suppression.”

Similar to the nature of the flag, the historic map of Palestine is seen as an emblem of resistance.

A representation of the land before the establishment of Israel in 1948, the map is often seen in protests and resistance artwork. According to Al Jazeera, it represents Palestine prior to when Zionist forces expelled at least 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and captured more than 78% of historic Palestine. The remaining 20% of land is now the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip.

An agricultural staple and symbol of resistance deeply tied to Palestine is the olive tree.

An emblem of peace and resilience, the olive tree represents the generations of farmers who have endured the violence and conflict inflicted on them yet persevere anyway. Despite Israeli forces continuously uprooting olive trees and destroying them, Palestians continue to plant them as an act of hope, maintaining that they will keep their roots despite displacement.