Who Is Handala? Meaning of Naji al-Ali's Iconic Palestinian Cartoon

He's barefoot, his clothes are patched, his hair sticks up like thorns, and he always has his back to you. If you've seen Palestine art, murals or apparel, you've almost certainly seen Handala (حنظلة). Here's who he is, who created him, and what every part of the drawing means.

Who created Handala?

Handala was created by Naji al-Ali, one of the most influential political cartoonists in the Arab world. Naji al-Ali was born around 1938 in al-Shajara, a village in northern Palestine between Tiberias and Nazareth. In 1948, when he was about ten years old, his family was forced to leave and became refugees in southern Lebanon, where he grew up in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp near Sidon.

The writer Ghassan Kanafani saw his drawings on a visit to the camp and published them in 1961. Over his career Naji al-Ali drew more than 40,000 cartoons for newspapers in Kuwait, Lebanon and London.

Handala first appeared on 13 July 1969 in the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Seyassah, and soon became the signature that appeared in nearly every cartoon Naji al-Ali drew.

What Handala means: every detail explained

Why is Handala 10 years old?

Handala is forever ten, the age Naji al-Ali was when he was forced from Palestine. In his words, Handala "was born ten years old and he will always be ten years old." He will only grow up, al-Ali said, when he can return home.

What does the name Handala mean?

The name comes from ḥanẓal, the Arabic name for the colocynth: a bitter desert plant with deep roots that grows back when it's cut. Bitter, rooted and impossible to get rid of, it's a fitting name for a refugee child who refuses to forget where he comes from.

Why does Handala turn his back?

In his early appearances Handala faced the reader. From 1973 he turned his back and clasped his hands behind it, and he never turned around again. Naji al-Ali described this as a rejection of the political "solutions" being imposed on the region. He is a witness, watching events unfold, and he will only show his face when Palestinians are free to return.

Why is he barefoot in ragged clothes?

His bare feet and patched clothes show that he belongs to the poor and the dispossessed: the refugees and ordinary people that Naji al-Ali drew for.

"The arrow of the compass"

Naji al-Ali called Handala "the arrow of the compass, pointing steadily towards Palestine," and said the character "will not end after I die." He was right.

On 22 July 1987, Naji al-Ali was shot outside the London office of the newspaper Al Qabas, where he worked. He died on 29 August 1987 after five weeks in a coma. The case has never been solved. In 1988 he was posthumously awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom by the international newspaper publishers' federation.

Handala today

Decades later, Handala is everywhere: painted on the separation wall and on walls in refugee camps, worn as necklaces and pins, tattooed, shared as profile pictures and printed on clothing around the world. For many people he represents:

• The right of return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
• Memory: a child who refuses to grow up or forget until he goes home.
• Witness and conscience: someone who sees what is happening and won't look away.

Handala designs from Me Olives

We carry Handala on several made-to-order pieces:

• Handala & Map of Palestine Hoodie: Handala with the historic map of Palestine on a warm unisex hoodie.
• Handala T-Shirt: a soft unisex cotton tee.
• Handala Long Sleeve: for cooler days.
• Map of Palestine & Handala Crop Top: a women's cut.

Explore more in our Palestine collection, or read about another famous symbol: what the watermelon means for Palestine.

FAQ

What does Handala symbolize?

Handala symbolizes Palestinian refugees, the right of return and steadfastness. He is a ten-year-old refugee boy who turned his back on the world and will only turn around when Palestinians can go home.

Why is Handala's face never shown?

Naji al-Ali turned Handala's back to the reader in 1973 as a sign of rejection of imposed political solutions. His face will only be seen, the story goes, when Palestine is free and he can return.

How do you pronounce Handala?

It's pronounced roughly "HAN-tha-la" (حنظلة). You'll also see it spelled Hanthala or Hanzala.

Is it okay to wear Handala if I'm not Palestinian?

Yes. Handala is shared by Palestinians and supporters worldwide as a symbol of solidarity with refugees and their right to return. Wearing him respectfully is a way to keep his story, and Naji al-Ali's, alive.