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'Our land, our sky:' West Bank Palestinians fly kites in defiance of Israeli settlers
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Culture & Society

'Our land, our sky:' West Bank Palestinians fly kites in defiance of Israeli settlers

From Dawn · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Palestinians in the West Bank village of Burin held a kite festival on land partially lost to Israeli settlers.
  • Organizers stated the festival sends a message to settlers that the land and sky belong to Palestinians, even if they cannot access the land.
  • The event, which included children's activities, unfolded under the shadow of the ongoing conflict, with residents expressing fear of settler attacks.

In the West Bank village of Burin, Palestinian residents and solidarity activists gathered on a hillside to fly kites, a colorful display against the backdrop of encroaching Israeli settlements. The annual kite festival, held on land that has been partially occupied by settlers, aims to assert Palestinian presence and connection to their territory.

We want to tell the settlers that this is our land, this is our sky. If we can’t reach those lands anymore, our kites can.

— Ghassan NajjarOne of the festival's organizers, explaining the symbolic meaning of flying kites over occupied land.

"We want to tell the settlers that this is our land, this is our sky. If we can’t reach those lands anymore, our kites can," said Ghassan Najjar, one of the festival's organizers. He explained that while the event is primarily for children, it carries a significant political message amid the constant conversations in Burin about settler violence and the expansion of settlements.

Our children have the right to play and to have a real and a good life.

— Ghassan NajjarHighlighting the importance of normalcy and childhood amidst the conflict.

The festival transformed the hillside into a temporary village fair, with a clown painting children's faces and music filling the air. Kites in the colors of the Palestinian flag soared, alongside one representing Egypt. "Our children have the right to play and to have a real and a good life," Najjar added.

Sometimes we are scared… Last year we didn’t come because settlers had attacked the village.

— Sanaa Bashar NajjarA 15-year-old resident describing the fear of settler violence impacting community events.

However, the celebration occurred under the persistent shadow of the conflict. Residents reported checking for nearby settler groups before gathering and shared anxieties about potential attacks. "Sometimes we are scared... Last year we didn’t come because settlers had attacked the village," said 15-year-old Sanaa Bashar Najjar. Another resident, Dalia Zaban, recounted her parents' home being attacked with smashed windows and vandalized cars. Despite the hardships, including war and economic difficulties, the festival offered a brief respite, a chance to "just breathe."

Today, we just hope they don’t come down here.

— Dalia ZabanA resident expressing apprehension about potential settler presence during the festival.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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