For decades, Palestinians have relied on symbolic articulations of nationhood to communicate their historic connection to the land of Palestine. The most prominent of these symbols has been the olive tree, symbolising both their rootedness in the land, as well as their resistance against all forms of colonialism which aim to diminish their claim to it. This article will uncover some reasons as to why it has been made it a target of attacks by the colonial regime, and what these have looked like in recent history. 

In light of the Zionist regime’s announcement of its plan to demolish part of the centuries old Al-Yusufiya cemetery for the construction of a national park, this article discusses the forms of necroviolence inflicted on Palestinians through the decades, exposing its effects and consequences on Palestinians long after death, when it is backdropped by colonial occupation.

Amongst the media storm that followed the 11 day Israeli massacre carried out in Gaza this past May, calls for a peaceful solution to end the bloodshed have been heard louder than ever before. Built off of an ill-informed understanding of ‘normalisation', many such solutions have come and gone, and where applied, produced more disastrous consequences than they came to solve. So what exactly does this term ‘normalisation’ mean, and who does it serve?