In Palestine We Write Our Names On Our Hands So That Our Babies Are Identified When We Are Hit With Israeli Bombs

A Pro-Palestinian protester holds a sign that reads, “We Write Our Names ON OUR HANDS So that our babies are identified when we are hit with Israeli Bombs.” This was during the Pro-Palestine rally on Nov. 9, 2023 in the Central West End of St. Louis.

In Palestine, the act of writing names on hands is a powerful symbol of resistance and resilience. It is a way for parents to ensure that their children are not lost or forgotten, even in the midst of conflict and displacement.

The practice is said to have originated during the First Intifada, the Palestinian uprising that lasted from 1987 to 1993. During this time, many Palestinian children were separated from their families and lost in the chaos of the Israeli occupation. Writing their names on their hands was a way for parents to keep track of their children and to ensure that they could be reunited if they were separated.

The practice has continued to be used in the years since the First Intifada. In 2014, during the Gaza War, many Palestinian children were killed or injured. In the aftermath of the war, parents began writing their children’s names on their hands once again, as a way to protect them from harm.

Writing names on hands is a simple act, but it has a profound meaning for Palestinian parents. It is a way to express their love for their children and to protect them from harm. It is also a way to assert their identity and to resist the Israeli occupation.

The practice of writing names on hands is a reminder of the strength and resilience of the Palestinian people. It is a symbol of their hope for a better future for their children.