Handala
Symbol and personification of the Palestinian people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Handala (Arabic: حنظلة, romanized: Ḥanẓala), also Handhala, Hanzala or Hanthala, is a prominent national symbol and personification of the Palestinian people.[1][2]
| Handala | |
|---|---|
Handala, the Palestinian defiance symbol | |
First appearance |
|
Last appearance | 1987 |
| Created by | Naji al-Ali |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | حنظلة |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | 10 year old child |
| Affiliation | Justice, steadfastness (see sumud), poverty |
| Origin | Palestinian refugee |
| Nationality | Palestinian |
The character was created in 1969 by political cartoonist Naji al-Ali, and first took its current form in 1973. Handala became the signature of Naji al-Ali's cartoons and remains an iconic symbol of Palestinian identity and defiance. The character has been described as "portraying war, resistance, and the Palestinian identity with astounding clarity".[3]
Early publication
Handala appeared for the first time on Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Seyassah on 13 July 1969,[1] and first turned his back to the viewer and clasped his hands behind his back from 1973 onwards.[4]
Usage
Current usages of the Handala motif include:
- The web mascot of the Iranian Green Movement[5]
- In Israeli artwork, particularly alongside the Israeli character Srulik[6]
- The ship used in the July 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla which challenged the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza was named after it.[7][8][9][10]
Gallery
A mural featuring Handala on rubble from a destroyed building in Gaza City; the text reads 'There is hope' in Palestinian Arabic
