Jerusalem is the third holiest city in Islam. The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is the location from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended to the heavens during the Night Journey. Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent Palestinian state, and they see any attempt to control or alter the status of the city as an infringement on their national rights. Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognised by most countries, and the status of the city is a contentious issue in peace negotiations.

A juicy slice of this summer fruit became a symbol of Palestinian resistance after the 1967 war when Israel forbid Palestinians from flying their flag. In 1980, after the Israeli military shut down a gallery where Palestinian artists used the four colours of their flag in their artwork, an officer explained that painting in the colours of the Palestinian flag was not allowed and he gave the watermelon as one example of art that violates the army’s rules, because it boasts red flesh, black seeds, and the fine white transition into the green exterior.

With its distinctive chequered pattern, the keffiyeh is a traditional Middle Eastern headdress which dates back to 3100 BC. It features a fishnet pattern symbolising abundance, a sea wave pattern resembling strength and resilience under occupation, as well as a bold pattern that signifies the trade routes which shaped their culture. The iconic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and other prominent liberation figures often wore the keffiyeh, contributing to its symbolism.