What does the watermelon emoji have to do with Palestinian resistance?

Today on social media, it is not uncommon to see the watermelon emoji used to express solidarity and support for the Palestinian resistance. Similarly, in numerous demonstrations in favor of Palestine and against the war between Israel and Hamas, which resumed on October 7th, one often comes across signs and banners featuring the fruit's image. But where does this association come from? The watermelon typically grows in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and its colors – the red of the flesh, the green and white of the rind, and the black of the seeds – are the same as those on the Palestinian flag. For a long time, this was an association known and understood by a small niche of supporters, but recently, the representation has become increasingly popular and widespread, so today it is recognized worldwide. For example, a Palestinian artist who has gained significant attention is Khaled Hourani: he lives in the West Bank and often incorporates the image of the fruit into his works. The use of the watermelon emoji, especially online and on social media, is indeed a way to express solidarity with the Palestinian people while keeping a low profile, thus avoiding an overly explicit stance, especially in countries where political statements could have serious consequences. Utilizing the watermelon emoji to convey pro-Palestinian content also allows for avoiding penalties from platform algorithms, which have recently restricted or slowed down the circulation of posts about Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip.

When did the association between watermelon and Palestine originate?

The fruit has been the symbol of Palestinian resistance for decades but in a somewhat secretive manner. According to the New York Times, its origins are uncertain, dating back to a broad time frame between 1967 – when Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip – and 1993 – when the Oslo Accords were ratified, marking the first acknowledgment between Israel and Palestine as legitimate counterparts. The association between watermelon and Palestine most likely originated following the suppression of the Palestinian flag by Israel. Although it was never formally banned, Israel effectively made it disappear from the occupied territories, leading to the use of watermelon images in place of flags, which were routinely confiscated. According to another account, it all started with the reaction of some Palestinian artists in the 1980s, when the Israeli army prohibited them from including the nation's flag in their works. On social media, the association of the watermelon emoji (introduced in messaging apps in 2015) with Palestine began in 2021, coinciding with heightened tensions between Israel and Hamas, culminating in a new war. With the recent exposure of this symbol, its meaning has also evolved: from being mostly a subversive gesture aimed at not attracting attention, today, the representation of the watermelon has become a practice accessible to anyone expressing solidarity with the Palestinian resistance, not just in the Western world.