Walls that speak: Palestinian resistance art under occupation

Content Warning: Discussion of occupation and conflict

Resistance art has become a crucial way for the Palestinian people, and their supporters, to express their anger and solidarity. From powerful graffiti on street walls to beautifully gut-wrenching murals and sculptures, Palestinian resistance art has acted as a form of activism and empowerment during the occupation.

Protests have erupted worldwide in response to Israel’s unlawful actions in Gaza, particularly the genocide of the Palestinian people. At Newcastle University, the Apartheid off Campus (AOC) campaign sought to hold the institution accountable for its ties to BDS-targeted companies and defence contractors like BAE Systems and Leonardo S.P.A. AOC provided students with a platform to express their anger at the university’s complicity while demonstrating solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian community. Resistance art played a central role in the movement, with activists creating banners, posters, and even graffiti on university buildings as acts of protest.

Using short slogans such as "Free Palestine" or semiotic imagery - the Palestinian flag, a raised fist, or simply a bloody handprint - graffiti encapsulates a sense of desperation and urgency. It aims to raise awareness and demonstrate solidarity towards a political discourse, particularly in urban areas or sites linked to prejudice or oppression.

Often distinguished from graffiti, but still in the same vein, are street murals. Usually painted on walls or ceilings, murals are large-scale paintings that often convey significant messages. Amal Abu al-Sabah, a 26-year-old Palestinian Artist, used broken buildings and rubble as her canvas while residing in Gaza during the conflict. Her mural, titled Gaza 2024, encapsulates the war through bold colours and metaphorical imagery, with the symbolism of a 'rubble canvas' knowing no bounds.

Another young Palestinian Artist who has created empowering resistance art during the Gaza conflict is Malak Mattar. With more than 50k followers on Instagram, Mattar is well-known for her gorgeous painting style, which captures the Palestinian identity. Her latest, and most impressive painting, was a large-scale piece titled No Words; a black and white Guernica-style abstract painting that shows scenes of death and destruction and the horrors of the genocide.

Resistance art is an integral part of activism and has been for many hundreds of years. Graffiti and street murals capture the desperation and human nature of conflict, while impressive abstract paintings demonstrate the depths of Palestinian suffering at the hands of the Israeli Government. Though it can't erase the months of horror and destruction, resistance art can create hope and a sense of community, conveying the Palestinian experience to the rest of the world.