The Significance of Handala: Exploring the Symbol of Resistance Embodied by Palestine's New Floilla
In June 2023, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition launched two vessels, Handala and Madleen, on a mission to deliver aid and solidarity to the besieged people of Gaza. These names, Handala and Madleen, hold deep symbolic meaning, directly connected to the Palestinian struggle.
Handala, named after an iconic Palestinian cartoon character created by political artist Naji al-Ali, symbolizes steadfast Palestinian defiance and resistance. The barefoot child, first drawn in 1969, turned his back to the world, embodying the spirit of every child in Gaza who has been denied safety, dignity, and joy. As described by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Handala represents "the spirit of every child in Gaza who has been denied safety, dignity, and joy."
The Madleen boat, on the other hand, was named in honour of Madleen Kulab, Gaza’s first and only female fisher. At just 13, she replaced her father as a fisher in a harsh environment marked by blockade and threats. Her life story symbolizes resilience and hope within the blockade. Despite the difficult circumstances, Madleen later became a small business owner in Gaza, offering boat tours under a purple canopy.
The Madleen vessel, carrying food, medicine, and messages of solidarity, was intercepted and seized by Israeli forces in international waters on June 9, 2023. The action of abducting the unarmed civilians aboard the Madleen was condemned as a violation of international law by several human rights observers. The civilians' only "crime" was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians trapped under siege in Gaza.
By choosing these names, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition amplifies Palestinian voices of resistance and survival, linking Handala’s image of defiance and Madleen’s real-life story of courage to the ongoing humanitarian effort to break the siege on Gaza and support its besieged population. The flotilla vessels thus serve as powerful symbols of the Palestinian people’s enduring struggle for justice and freedom.
References: [1] Freedom Flotilla Coalition, "About Us," accessed March 15, 2023, https://freedomflotilla.org/about-us/ [2] Al Jazeera, "Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali's Handala turns 50," March 28, 2019, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/3/28/palestinian-cartoonist-naji-al-ali-s-handala-turns-50 [3] Middle East Monitor, "Israel seizes aid boats headed for Gaza," June 10, 2023, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230610-israel-seizes-aid-boats-headed-for-gaza/ [4] Palestine Chronicle, "Handala: A Symbol of Palestinian Resistance," August 18, 2019, https://www.palestinechronicle.com/handala-a-symbol-of-palestinian-resistance/
- The Turkish Freedom Flotilla Coalition's choice to name their vessel Handala, symbolizing Palestinian defiance and resistance, highlights the ongoing war-and-conflicts and politics surrounding the Palestinian struggle.
- The interception and seizure of the Madleen vessel, carrying aid and messages of solidarity for the besieged people of Gaza, by Israeli forces in international waters involves a violation of international law, as criminalized by crime-and-justice observatory bodies.
- In the general-news realm, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's tribute to Madleen Kulab, the first female fisher in Gaza and embodiment of resilience, serves as a poignant reminder of the harshrealities faced by the Palestinian people in their ongoing fight for justice and freedom.
