In the 1930s, under British colonial rule in Palestine, the keffiyeh became a strategic and unified act of resistance. Citizens wore it not as a quiet gesture, but as a deliberate way to protect freedom fighters. By making the keffiyeh a part of everyday dress in classrooms, marketplaces, and social gatherings, Palestinians made it harder for colonizers to identify and target those actively resisting for the liberation of Palestine. It was a collective shield, a way to stand together and say,  "you will not divide us".

Nearly a century later, we see this history repeating. The keffiyeh remains a visual marker of identity and defiance, a thread that ties our past to our present. This series was born out of that history and out of my belief that resistance is not just in protest. It is in existence.

We are Palestinian in how we walk through the world. In how we create, care, gather, raise children, and show up for one another. Every photograph in this series captures a moment of ordinary life: praying, painting, dancing, playing basketball, reading, creating, simply being. All while wearing the keffiyeh. These images say: "we are still here".

I chose to shoot in black and white not just as a stylistic choice but to reflect the keffiyeh itself, its contrast, its clarity, its rooted symbolism. Without the distraction of color, we are invited to focus on gesture, texture, and light. On the strength and softness within these moments.

The keffiyeh’s design holds deep symbolism within its woven patterns. The fishnet shape represents the connection to the sea and the livelihood of Palestinian fishermen. The bold lines reflect historic international trade routes through Palestine, a reminder of our long-standing ties to the world beyond our borders. And the olive branches, subtly threaded into the corners, honour the olive tree – a symbol of resilience, rootedness, and the deep relationship Palestinians have with the land. These patterns are not decorative. They are a map of identity, resistance, and survival woven into every thread.

This is a tribute to the generations who came before us and to the ones who will come after. A reminder that even in stillness, we resist. Even in joy, we resist. Even in the quiet rituals of our day-to-day lives, we resist because we exist.