Last modified: 2022-12-31 by ian macdonald
Keywords: palestine | handala champion/protest flag |
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Source:
https://merip.org/2022/11/the-re-politicization-of-palestinian-soccer/
A white-field flag (with a red "frame" border) with the widely seen and
popular pro-Palestinian icon "Handala" being waved (c. late 2021?) by the
"Ultras Sakhnin" (soccer-team fan-club) of the "Ittihad Abna Sakhnin" (soccer
team) in Sakhnin, Israel -- located just south of the Golan Heights, and which
has a prominent Arab community. According to Wikipedia: "Handala (also Handhala,
Hanzala or Hanthala), is a prominent
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_symbol and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_personification of the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_people. The character ...took its
current form in 1973....[Handala] 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". The name
comes from
Citrullus colocynthis..., a perennial plant local to the region which bears
a bitter fruit, grows back when cut and has deep roots." This flag was waved
during a soccer match not as a soccer-team flag, but most likely just to
champion the pro-Palestine independence movement at a large public soccer match.
Bill Garrison, 22
November 2022