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WHO IS HANDALA? From approximately 1975 through 1987 Naji Al-Ali created cartoons that depict the complexities of the plight of Palestinian refugees. These cartoons are still relevant today and Handala, the refugee child who is present in every cartoon, remains a potent symbol of the struggle of the Palestinian people for justice and self-determination.Naji Al-Ali wrote: “The child Handala is my signature, everyone asks me about him wherever I go. I gave birth to this child in the Gulf and I presented him to the people. His name is Handala and he has promised the people that he will remain true to himself. I drew him as a child who is not beautiful; his hair is like the hair of a hedgehog who uses his thorns as a weapon. Handala is not a fat, happy, relaxed, or pampered child. He is barefooted like the refugee camp children, and he is an icon that protects me from making mistakes. Even though he is rough, he smells of amber. His hands are clasped behind his back as a sign of rejection at a time when solutions are presented to us the American way.”Handala was born ten years old, and he will always be ten years old. At that age, I left my homeland, and when he returns, Handala will still be ten, and then he will start growing up. The laws of nature do not apply to him. He is unique. Things will become normal again when the homeland returns.I presented him to the poor and named him Handala as a symbol of bitterness. At first, he was a Palestinian child, but his consciousness developed to have a national and then a global and human horizon. He is a simple yet tough child, and this is why people adopted him and felt that he represents their consciousness.” LET THIS CHILD RETURN HOME |
My name is Kamal Hassan, I am a Palestinian Refugee, born in Lebanon in 1950. I am also true to my beloved Palestine, I do not belong to any faction or organization of any kind, I belong to the Palestinian people. I have Handala tattooed on my right forearm, it is also to keep me true to my Palestine, all my children have Handala tattooed on their body. They’re very proud Palestinians has their father and his father, and so on. Palestine runs in my veins until the day I depart from this earth….
I am new to Handala. Does Naji Al Ali have a book of Handala cartoons published?
Though this may appear distasteful to profit from an icon, distributing a collection would accomplish reaching a mass audience & as cartoons, could even change perceptions away from the western izraeliocentric viewpoint.
If Handala were my creation I would think carefully about the vast amount of money Handala could earn, he could be on clothing, drinking glasses, made into a video?
I’m thinking all the time how to get the Palestinian perspective to a mass audience, you could get children in the USA and worldwide to fall in love, you’d have them at least listen to your side of the catastrophe and counter the massive zionist propaganda machine.
Time is so very ripe now.
I as a Palestinian refugee agree with some of what dear Kate have stated, but I believe Handala should be more preserved and dignified as a Palestinian symbol, as to represent the proud and dignified Palestinian People….
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