![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LZAA332BDBX62EQQQSSC3D57RM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e31484dc9d051e6315532e779adb3dc55710527ceae05f6c999f60537dd35d54&width=400&height=225)
Jaffa-born artist Sami Boukhari (@sammhary on Instagram) drew inspiration from Khaled Hourani's work. Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XO6EDJPNFWKN6VSONU4ZOTWJVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa572b0b19292279c6d202e171d23dcd982ad00fc54f162a44a0534b266e9bdb&width=400&height=225)
Khaled Hourani's work 'The Colours of the Palestinian Flag', on view at the Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow in 2014. Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NHW2BL3OAEECVRJIQYHNB6NGUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1400694e377faae19a5c8b65efc77e21398ad97ead32a53200dc424ea7a8a1c&width=400&height=225)
Artist Khaled Hourani first used the watermelon in his work for the Atlas of Palestine Project in 2007. Courtesy Khaled Hourani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YM3YOF6RKEFOWEWFGQ4BFUHKXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4dcb34bb4bd55aae0b9ce81a6954c76ca80f9e64543a88789cb7716e689da55&width=400&height=225)
'Watermelon Resistance' by Jordanian artist Sarah Hatahet (@sarahhatahet on Instagram). "I wanted to showcase Palestinian resistance and perseverance in my work... as an ode to Palestine," she says. "I wanted to share my solidarity through art even if it feels small compared to what the Palestinian people are doing and going through on the ground". Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MJRYIZ3KKLRMWDIA2CGPFAA6EI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4bce31b2049faf9fd003a585f1c7ebb17423dc1dafcdd8ad5994948f3a70a84&width=400&height=225)
A digital illustration by Aya Mobaydeen (@aya_mobaydeen on Instagram), who lives in Amman. Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UIWR6EAKJEGGW2OPZPH24UTWDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3f81eb7e01d71d0e02c0ef40e2e2132af505d7876750d1f2490e109bc27070dc&width=400&height=225)
Beesan Arafat (@beesanarafat on Instagram), Palestinian-Jordanian artist in England, depicts a slice of watermelon on a Hebron plate. Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LZAA332BDBX62EQQQSSC3D57RM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e31484dc9d051e6315532e779adb3dc55710527ceae05f6c999f60537dd35d54&width=400&height=225)
Jaffa-born artist Sami Boukhari (@sammhary on Instagram) drew inspiration from Khaled Hourani's work. Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XO6EDJPNFWKN6VSONU4ZOTWJVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa572b0b19292279c6d202e171d23dcd982ad00fc54f162a44a0534b266e9bdb&width=400&height=225)
Khaled Hourani's work 'The Colours of the Palestinian Flag', on view at the Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow in 2014. Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NHW2BL3OAEECVRJIQYHNB6NGUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1400694e377faae19a5c8b65efc77e21398ad97ead32a53200dc424ea7a8a1c&width=400&height=225)
Artist Khaled Hourani first used the watermelon in his work for the Atlas of Palestine Project in 2007. Courtesy Khaled Hourani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YM3YOF6RKEFOWEWFGQ4BFUHKXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4dcb34bb4bd55aae0b9ce81a6954c76ca80f9e64543a88789cb7716e689da55&width=400&height=225)
'Watermelon Resistance' by Jordanian artist Sarah Hatahet (@sarahhatahet on Instagram). "I wanted to showcase Palestinian resistance and perseverance in my work... as an ode to Palestine," she says. "I wanted to share my solidarity through art even if it feels small compared to what the Palestinian people are doing and going through on the ground". Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MJRYIZ3KKLRMWDIA2CGPFAA6EI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4bce31b2049faf9fd003a585f1c7ebb17423dc1dafcdd8ad5994948f3a70a84&width=400&height=225)
A digital illustration by Aya Mobaydeen (@aya_mobaydeen on Instagram), who lives in Amman. Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UIWR6EAKJEGGW2OPZPH24UTWDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3f81eb7e01d71d0e02c0ef40e2e2132af505d7876750d1f2490e109bc27070dc&width=400&height=225)
Beesan Arafat (@beesanarafat on Instagram), Palestinian-Jordanian artist in England, depicts a slice of watermelon on a Hebron plate. Courtesy the artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LZAA332BDBX62EQQQSSC3D57RM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e31484dc9d051e6315532e779adb3dc55710527ceae05f6c999f60537dd35d54&width=400&height=225)
Jaffa-born artist Sami Boukhari (@sammhary on Instagram) drew inspiration from Khaled Hourani's work. Courtesy the artist
How the watermelon became a symbol of Palestinian resistance
While the origins of the story cannot be verified, the fruit has taken on new meaning on social media
![Alexandra Chaves](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fbdf74649-e581-430d-bebb-05a009adb530.png?smart=true&auth=1aaef0ec554b632723f2f63cf60bfb8380f8e1ec18ca35283e642f53cc0bac8e&width=70&height=70)
Alexandra Chaves
30 May, 2021
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