Introduction
The Palestinian History Tapestry
The Palestinian History Tapestry uses the embroidery skills of Palestinian women to illustrate aspects of the land and peoples of Palestine – from Neolithic times to the present.In the past, Palestinian embroiderers have mainly used cross stitch (tatreez) and geometric designs to decorate dresses and other items.
Although some of these designs have been used in parts of the Palestinian History Tapestry, the Tapestry is a further development of traditional Palestinian embroidery. It shows how the creativity and imagination of Palestinian embroiderers has been used to represent the complicated illustrative imagery required for a history tapestry.
The Palestinian History Tapestry was proposed in 2012 by Jan Chalmers. Jan had worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza and was familiar with Palestinian embroidery. She had also contributed to the creation of a 122-metre South African tapestry stitched by village women living in poverty on the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The Keiskamma Tapestry, as it is known, illustrates 300 years of history leading to the end of apartheid, and it is now on permanent display in the Parliament House in Cape Town.
Jan’s proposal for a Palestinian history tapestry led Palestinians and friends to work together to establish and develop the Palestinian History Tapestry Project. The work of the embroiderers has been funded by charitable donations, and from sales of Palestinian embroidery.
The first phase of the Project was completed in 2018. Formal launch events coincided with the 70th Anniversary of ‘The Nakba’ (‘The Catastrophe’) - the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. This resulted in the forcible removal of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes, and the creation of the State of Israel.
The Tapestry was launched in London on 11 December, the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 194. This resolved that:
“refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to.”
The names of Palestinians who have contributed to the Project are followed [in parentheses] by the names of the places in Palestine from which their families originate, as well as their current locations. Their involvement in the Palestinian History Tapestry is an expression of ‘sumud’ (steadfastness). Their work, done in collaboration with friends, will hopefully draw attention not only to Palestinian history and heritage, but also to the internationally declared right of Palestinians to return to their homes.
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The Palestinian History Tapestry is owned by the Palestinian History Tapestry Project. Images and texts, copyright of the Palestinian History Tapestry Project.
Where not otherwise indicated, material in the Palestinian History Tapestry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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“On this land”
"على هذه الأرض ما يستحق الحياة"
“On this land”
Size: 59 × 102 cm
Design: Ibrahim Muhtadi [Al Quds], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0002
Neolithic Period (9,500—4,000 BCE)
Pre-pottery statue
تمثال من العصر الحجري الحديث ما قبل الفخاري
Pre-pottery statue
Size: 59 x 41 cm
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Panel #pht-0010
Walled Jericho
Panel #pht-0020
Stone-Copper Age (4,000—3,000 BCE)
Chalcolithic figurine
تمثال من العصر النحاسي
Chalcolithic figurine
Size: 59 x 39 cm
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Panel #pht-0030
Chalcolithic ram
تمثال الكبش من العصر النحاس
Chalcolithic ram
Size: 59 x 94 cm
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Panel #pht-0040
Bronze Age (3,000—1,250 BCE)
Electrum jug
ابريق من الالكتروم
Electrum jug
Size: 59 x 37 cm
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Panel #pht-0050
Beni Hasan mural (1)
جدارية بني حسن (1)
Beni Hasan mural (1)
Size: 59 x 140 cm
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Panel #pht-0060
Beni Hasan mural (2)
جدارية بني حسن (2)
Beni Hasan mural (2)
Size: 59 x 115 cm
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Panel #pht-0070
Iron Age (1,250—586 BCE)
Iron Age (1,250—721 BCE)
Philistine warrior
المحارب الفليستي/الفلستيني
Philistine warrior
Size: 59 x 37 cm
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Panel #pht-0080
Palestine
Panel #pht-0090
Philistine pottery
فخار فليستي
Philistine pottery
Size: 59 x 92 cm
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Panel #pht-0100
Philistine bird
الطائر الفليستي
Philistine bird
Size: 59 x 99 cm
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Panel #pht-0110
Assyrian siege of Lachish
الحصار الآشوري لمدينة لكيش
Assyrian siege of Lachish
Size: 59 x 84 cm
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Panel #pht-0120
Introduction
Babylonian/Persian Period (721—332 BCE)
Ba’al, God of Storm Cloud
بعل، إلاهبعل، اله الصواعق والسحب
Ba’al, God of Storm Cloud
Size: 59 x 38 cm
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Panel #pht-0130
First Jewish Temple destroyed
هدم المعبد اليهودي الأول
First Jewish Temple destroyed
Size: 59 x 80 cm
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Panel #pht-0140
Hellenistic Period (332—63 BCE)
Hellenistic rooster
الديك الهيلينستيكي
Hellenistic rooster
Size: 59 x 34 cm
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Panel #pht-0150
Alexander the Great
الاسكندر العظيم
Alexander the Great
Size: 59 x 104 cm
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Panel #pht-0160
Roman Period (63 BCE—325 CE)
Roman Judea
Panel #pht-0170
Birth of Jesus of Nazareth in Bethlehem
ميلاد المسيح في مدينة الناصرة
Birth of Jesus of Nazareth in Bethlehem
Size: 59 x 90 cm
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Panel #pht-0180
2nd Jewish Temple destroyed
Panel #pht-0190
Roman aqueduct, Caesarea
القناة الرومانية (قصارية)
Roman aqueduct, Caesarea
Size: 59 x 71 cm
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Panel #pht-0200
Introduction
Byzantine Period (325—640)
Helena Augusta
الأميرة هيلينا أوغستا
Helena Augusta
Size: 59 x 35 cm
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Panel #pht-0210
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
كنيسة القيامة
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Size: 59 x 80 cm
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Panel #pht-0220
Early Islamic Period (640—1099 CE)
No God but Allah
"لا اله الا الله"
No God but Allah
Size: 59 x 38 cm
Design: Ibrahim Muhtadi [Al Quds], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0230
Haram Ash Sharif (Noble Sanctuary)
الحرم الشريف
Haram Ash Sharif (Noble Sanctuary)
Size: 59 x 96 cm
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Panel #pht-0240
Khirbet El-Mafjar
Panel #pht-0250
Khirbet El-Mafjar mosaic
فسيفسائية خربة المفجر
Khirbet El-Mafjar mosaic
Size: 59 x 90 cm
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Panel #pht-0260
Crusader Period (1099—1291)
Crusader soldiers
المحاربون الصليبيون
Crusader soldiers
Size: 59 x 36 cm
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Panel #pht-0270
Godfrey de Bouillon and crusaders
غودفري دي بويلون والصليبيون
Godfrey de Bouillon and crusaders
Size: 59 x 96 cm
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Panel #pht-0280
Ayyubid Period (1187—1250)
Ewer of Saladin
Panel #pht-0290
Ṣalaḥ ad-Din Yusuf al-Ayyubid (Saladin)
صلاح الدين يوسف الايوبي
Ṣalaḥ ad-Din Yusuf al-Ayyubid (Saladin)
Size: 59 x 83 cm
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Panel #pht-0300
Mamluk Period (1260—1516)
Armed Mamluk warrior
المحارب المملوك
Armed Mamluk warrior
Size: 59 x 38 cm
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Panel #pht-0310
Makam Hassan er Ra’ai
مقام الشيخ حسن الراعي
Makam Hassan er Ra’ai
Size: 59 x 97 cm
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Panel #pht-0320
Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya Al Quds
المدرسة الأشرفية - القدس
Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya Al Quds
Size: 59 x 40 cm
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Panel #pht-0330
Mamluk embroidery
التطريز المملوكي
Mamluk embroidery
Size: 59 x 37 cm
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Panel #pht-0331
Introduction
Ottoman Period (1516—1917)
Suleyman the Magnificent
السلطان سليمان الجليل / السلطان سليمان القانوني
Suleyman the Magnificent
Size: 59 x 37 cm
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Panel #pht-0340
Bab al-Amud [Damascus Gate], Al Quds
باب العمود (بوابة دمشق)- القدس
Bab al-Amud [Damascus Gate], Al Quds
Size: 59 x 73 cm
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Panel #pht-0350
Thobe embroidery
تطريز الثوب الفلسطيني
Thobe embroidery
Size: 59 x 37 cm
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Panel #pht-0351
Camel caravan
قافلة الجمال
Camel caravan
Size: 59 x 95 cm
Design: Alia Abu-Rabia, Drejat, Naqab
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Panel #pht-0360
Coffee
القهوة
Coffee
Size: 59 x 35 cm
Design: Alia Abu Rabia', Drejat, Naqab
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Panel #pht-0361
Port of Jaffa
Panel #pht-0370
‘The Land of Sad Oranges’
أرض البرتقال الحزين
‘The Land of Sad Oranges’
Size: 59 x 36 cm
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Panel #pht-0371
Napoleon’s failure at Acre
هزيمة نابليون في عكا
Napoleon’s failure at Acre
Size: 59 x 110 cm
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Panel #pht-0380
Ottoman Palestine, c.1875
فلسطين خلال الفترة العثمانية
Ottoman Palestine, c.1875
Size: 59 x 42
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Panel #pht-0382
British Military Administration (1917—1920)
Palestine, 1917
فلسطين 1917
Palestine, 1917
Size: 59 x 36 cm
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Panel #pht-0390
The Balfour Declaration, 1917
وعد بلفور 1917
The Balfour Declaration, 1917
Size: 59 x 41 cm
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Panel #pht-0400
British capture of Jerusalem, 1917
استيلاء بريطانيا على القدس
British capture of Jerusalem, 1917
Size: 59 x 83 cm
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Panel #pht-0410
Traditional embroidery sampler
نموذج من التطريز التقليدي
Traditional embroidery sampler
Size: 59 x 27 cm
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Panel #pht-0411
British Mandate (1920—1948)
The League of Nations Mandate for Palestine
عصبة الأمم المتحدة تقرر الانتداب البريطان
The League of Nations Mandate for Palestine
Size: 59 x 106 cm
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Panel #pht-0420
“One Palestine, complete”
استلام فلسطين موحدة وكاملة
“One Palestine, complete”
Size: 59 x 35 cm
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Panel #pht-0430
Palestine postage stamp
طابع البريد الفلسطيني
Palestine postage stamp
Size: 59 x 36 cm
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Panel #pht-0440
Tahriri embroidery
التطريز التحريري
Tahriri embroidery
Size: 59 x 33 cm
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Panel #pht-0441
Palestinian henna party
حفلة الحنة الفلسطينية
Palestinian henna party
Size: 59 x 112 cm
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Panel #pht-0442
Palestinian wedding
العرس الفلسطيني
Palestinian wedding
Size: 59 x 158 cm
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Panel #pht-0443
‘Mawtini’ (My Homeland)
"موطني"
‘Mawtini’ (My Homeland)
Size: 59 x 87 cm
Design: Ibrahim Muhtadi [Al Quds], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0444
The Palestinian Arab Revolt, 1936-1939
التمرد العربي الفلسطيني 1936-1939
The Palestinian Arab Revolt, 1936-1939
Size: 59 x 83 cm
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Panel #pht-0450
Palestine population, 1918-1947
عدد السكان في فلسطين 1918-1947
Palestine population, 1918-1947
Size: 59 x 66 cm
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Panel #pht-0460
Olive harvest
موسم حصاد الزيتون
Olive harvest
Size: 59 x 110 cm
Design: Hamada Atallah [Al Quds] Al Quds
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Panel #pht-0461
Safad
صفد
Safad
Size: 59 x 96 cm
Design: Fatma Abu Owda [Hamama], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0462
The Hand of Fatima/Mary/Miriam
يد فاطمة / ماري/ مريم
The Hand of Fatima/Mary/Miriam
Size: 59 x 48 cm
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Panel #pht-0463
Land ownership in Palestine, 1946
ملكية ارض فلسطين 1946
Land ownership in Palestine, 1946
Size: 59 x 36 cm & 59 x 33 cm
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Panel #pht-0470
UN proposed partition of Palestine 1947
مقترح الامم المتحدة لتقسيم ارض فلسطين 1947
UN proposed partition of Palestine 1947
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Panel #pht-0471
The ethnic cleansing of Palestine, 1948
التطهير العرقي لارض فلسطين 1948
The ethnic cleansing of Palestine, 1948
Size: 59 x 85 cm
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Panel #pht-0480
The Lone Refugee
" لاجئ "
The Lone Refugee
Size: 59 x 38 cm
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Panel #pht-0490
UN Resolution 194
قرار الأمم المتحدة رقم ١٩٤، ١١ ديسمبر ١٩٤٨
UN Resolution 194
Size: 59 x 45 cm
Design: Jan Chalmers, UK
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Panel #pht-0500
The Right of Return
حق العودة
The Right of Return
Design: Fatma Abu Owda [Hamama], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0510
Sumud - Steadfastness (1948 onwards)
Disappearing Palestine 1948-1967
إختفاء فلسطين، 1948-1967
Disappearing Palestine 1948-1967
Size: 59 x 33 cm
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Panel #pht-0520
UNRWA founded 1949
تاسيس الوكالة الدولية لإغاثة و تشغيل اللاجئين الفلسطينين، ١٩٤٩
UNRWA founded 1949
Size: 59 x 85 cm
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Panel #pht-0530
Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) founded, 1964
تأسيس منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية ١٩٦٤
Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) founded, 1964
Size: 59 x 75 cm
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Panel #pht-0540
Check point
Panel #pht-0560
Popular resistance
المقاومة الشعبية
Popular resistance
Size: 59 x 102 cm
Design: Ibrahim Muhtadi [Al Quds], Gaza.
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Panel #pht-0580
“Handala”
Panel #pht-0590
Land Day inaugurated, 30 March 1976
احياء يوم الارض ٣٠ مارس ١٩٧٦
Land Day inaugurated, 30 March 1976
Size: 59 x 131 cm
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Panel #pht-0600
International Women’s Day
يوم المرأة العالمي
International Women’s Day
Size: 59 x 45
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Panel #pht-0610
Sabra and Shatilia massacre, 1982
مجزرةصبرا و شاتيلا، ١٩٨٢
Sabra and Shatilia massacre, 1982
Size: 59 x 79 cm
Design: Ibrahim Muhtadi [Al Quds], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0620
Home schooling, 1987—1992
التعليم المنزلي، ١٩٨٧-١٩٩٢
Home schooling, 1987—1992
Size: 59 x 86 cm
Design: Fatma Abu Owda [Hamama], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0640
Fisherman and gunboats
صياد غزة و السفن المدفعية
Fisherman and gunboats
Size: 59 x 109 cm
Design: Adham Jaber [Hirbiya], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0650
Parental protection, 2000
تضحية الوالدين
Parental protection, 2000
Size: 59 x 70
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Panel #pht-0651
Standing alone, 2000
الحجر في مواجهة المدفع
Standing alone, 2000
Size: 59 x 74cm
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Panel #pht-0660
The Separation Wall initiated, 2002
بداية بناء جدار الفصل العنصري
The Separation Wall initiated, 2002
Size: 59 x 76cm
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Panel #pht-0670
Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions movement, 2005 —
حركة مقاطعة إسرائيل وسحب الاستثمارات منها وفرض العقوبات عليها، ٢٠٠٥-الان
Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions movement, 2005 —
Size: 59 x 96 cm
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Panel #pht-0680
Gaza rooftops
سطوح منازل غزة
Gaza rooftops
Size: 59 x 106 cm
Design: Adham Jaber [Hirbiya], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0681
Siege of Gaza, 2007 —
حصار غزة، ٢٠٠٧- الان
Siege of Gaza, 2007 —
Size: 59 x 72 cm
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Panel #pht-0690
Gaza under siege
حصار غزة، ٢٠٠٧- الانامرأة بين الركام، العدوان على غزة ٢٠٠٨-٢٠٠٩
Gaza under siege
Size: 59 x 35 cm
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Panel #pht-0691
Woman in rubble, Gaza assault, 2008—9
امرأة بين الركام، العدوان على غزة ٢٠٠٨-٢٠٠٩
Woman in rubble, Gaza assault, 2008—9
Size: 59 x 88 cm
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Panel #pht-0700
Homeless family, Gaza assault, 2008—9
عائلة مشردة، العدوان على غزة ٢٠٠٨-٢٠٠٩
Homeless family, Gaza assault, 2008—9
Size: 59 x 92 cm
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Panel #pht-0710
Destruction of Bedouin villages
تدمير القرى البدوية
Destruction of Bedouin villages
Size: 59 x 72 cm
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Panel #pht-0720
Sumud (Steadfastness)
Panel #pht-0730
Boys on the beach, Gaza assault, 2014
أطفال على الساحل، العدوان على غزة ٢٠١٤
Boys on the beach, Gaza assault, 2014
Size: 59 x 80 cm
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Panel #pht-0750
Deaths from Gaza hostilities, 2000-2016
Deaths from Gaza hostilities, 2000-2016
Size: 59 x 125 cm
Design: Jan Chalmers
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Panel #pht-0760
Illegal colonisation of Jerusalem and the West Bank, 1967—2017
الموتى من ضحايا الاعتداءات على غزة ٢٠٠٠-٢٠١٦
Illegal colonisation of Jerusalem and the West Bank, 1967—2017
Size: 59 x 125 cm
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Panel #pht-0770
Disappearing Palestine
اضمحلال فلسطين
Disappearing Palestine
Size: 59 x 34 cm
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Panel #pht-0779
The Great March of Return, 2018-
مسيرة
The Great March of Return, 2018-
Size: 59 x 81 cm
Design: Ibrahim Al Muhtadi [Al Quds], Gaza
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Panel #pht-0780
‘Jerusalem, you are beloved’
"يا قدس انت المعشوقة"
‘Jerusalem, you are beloved’
Size: 59 x 105 cm
Design: Haroon Haj Amer, Drejat, Naqab
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Panel #pht-0790
The dove
“حمامة السلام”
The dove
Size: 59 x 42 cm
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Panel #pht-0791
Olive branch
"غصن الزيتون"
Olive branch
Size: 59 x 40 cm
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Panel #pht-0792
‘Return’
"العودة"
‘Return’
Size: 59 x 37 cm
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Panel #pht-0793
Future of the Project
Future of the Palestinian History Tapestry
Palestinian embroiderers will continue to be commissioned by the Project to create additional illustrative panels relevant to events and themes, from the Neolithic period to the present. The Palestinian subcommittee will remain responsible for prioritizing additional images for stitch.Read on →
