Daijiworld Media Network - Ramallah
Ramallah, Sep 24: Watermelons, a staple of Palestinian cuisine, have become a powerful political symbol, reflecting the colors of the Palestinian flag — green, white, red, and black — in art, protests, and social media.
Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour recalled that during the 1980s, Israeli authorities forbade the Palestinian flag in exhibitions. “We were not allowed to paint in red, green, black and white: The Palestinian flag was forbidden,” he said. Mansour added that the idea of using watermelons as a symbol came ironically from an Israeli soldier, who warned that even a watermelon painted in flag colors would be confiscated.
Since then, the watermelon has gained cultural and political significance. It appears on walls, T-shirts, posters, and in art galleries across Palestine. Mansour highlighted the symbol’s link to Palestinian folklore, noting children’s stories in which a mythical toddler emerges from a watermelon, reflecting how children in Gaza are forced to grow up in harsh circumstances.
The Palestinian flag, dating back to 1916, was banned after the 1967 Six-Day War when Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. It was only reinstated in 1993 during the Oslo peace process. However, in January 2023, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered the removal of Palestinian flags from public spaces, effectively reinstating the ban.
Globally, protesters and social media users now often replace the Palestinian flag with watermelon imagery to avoid censorship. Artist Khaled Hourani has also contributed, auctioning watermelon-themed paintings to support Palestinian healthcare.
The watermelon symbol, however, carries different historical connotations in the United States, where it has been used in racist caricatures to demean Black people since the post-slavery era. This history resurfaced recently when the Democratic Socialists of America used watermelon imagery in fliers directed at House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, sparking controversy over its dual meanings.
Today, the watermelon continues to serve as a resilient emblem of Palestinian identity, resistance, and creativity, while highlighting the complex intersections of symbolism across cultures.