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A Child in Palestine: The Cartoons of Naji al-Ali
Naji al-Ali grew up in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh in the south Lebanese city of Sidon, where his gift for drawing was discovered by the Palestinian poet Ghassan Kanafani in the late 1950s. Early the following decade he left for Kuwait, embarking on a thirty-year career that would see his cartoons published daily in newspapers from Cairo to Beirut, London to Paris. Resolutely independent and unaligned to any political party, Naji al-Ali strove to speak to and for the ordinary Arab people; the pointed satire of his stark, symbolic cartoons brought him widespread renown. Through his most celebrated creation, the witness-child Handala, al-Ali criticized the brutality of Israeli occupation, the venality and corruption of the regimes in the region, and the suffering of the Palestinian people, earning him many powerful enemies and the soubriquet "the Palestinian Malcolm X." For the first time in book form, A Child in Palestine presents the work of one of the Arab world's greatest cartoonists, revered throughout the region for his outspokenness, honesty and humanity. "That was when the character Handala was born. The young, barefoot Handala was a symbol of my childhood. He was the age I was when I had left Palestine and, in a sense, I am still that age today and I feel that I can recall and sense every bush, every stone, every house and every tree I passed when I was a child in Palestine. The character of Handala was a sort of icon that protected my soul from falling whenever I felt sluggish or I was ignoring my duty. That child was like a splash of fresh water on my forehead, bringing me to attention and keeping me from error and loss. He was the arrow of the compass, pointing steadily towards Palestine. Not just Palestine in geographical terms, but Palestine in its humanitarian sense-the symbol of a just cause, whether it is located in Egypt, Vietnam or South Africa."-Naji al-Ali, in conversation with Radwa Ashour
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
22 people are currently reading
973 people want to read
About the author
Naji al-Ali ناجي العلي
12 books649 followers(السيرة الذاتية باللغة العربية أدناه)
Naji Salim al-Ali (1938–87) was a Palestinian cartoonist, noted for the political criticism in his work. He drew over 40,000 cartoons, which often reflected Palestinian and Arab public opinion and were sharply critical commentaries on Palestinian and Arab politics and political leaders. He is perhaps best known as creator of the character Handala, pictured in his cartoons as a young witness of the satirized policy or event depicted, and who has since become an icon of Palestinian defiance. Naji al-Ali was shot by unknown assailants outside the offices of “al-Qabas”, a Kuwaiti newspaper in London on July 22, 1987 and died 5 weeks later.
كان الصحفي والأديب الفلسطيني غسان كنفاني قد شاهد ثلاثة أعمال من رسوم ناجي في زيارة له في مخيم عين الحلوة فنشر له أولى لوحاته وكانت عبارة عن خيمة تعلو قمتها يد تلوّح، ونشرت في مجلة "الحرية" العدد 88 في 25 سبتمبر 1961. في سنة 1963 سافر إلى الكويت ليعمل محررا ورساما ومخرجا صحفيا فعمل في الطليعة الكويتية، السياسة الكويتية، السفير اللبنانية، القبس الكويتية، والقبس الدولية.
حنظلة: حنظلة شخصية ابتدعها ناجي العلي تمثل صبياً في العاشره من عمره، ظهر رسم حنظلة في الكويت عام 1969 في جريدة السياسة الكويتية، أدار ظهره في سنوات ما بعد 1973 وعقد يداه خلف ظهره، وأصبح حنظلة بمثابة توقيع ناجي العلي على رسوماته. لقي هذا الرسم وصاحبه حب الجماهير العربية كلها وخاصة الفلسطينية لأن حنظلة هو رمز للفلسطيني المعذب والقوي رغم كل الصعاب التي توجهه فهو شاهد صادق على الاحداث ولا يخشى أحد. ولد حنظلة في 5 حزيران 1967، ويقول ناجي العلي بأن حنظلة هو بمثابة الأيقونة التي تمثل الانهزام والضعف في الأنظمة العربية
Naji Salim al-Ali (1938–87) was a Palestinian cartoonist, noted for the political criticism in his work. He drew over 40,000 cartoons, which often reflected Palestinian and Arab public opinion and were sharply critical commentaries on Palestinian and Arab politics and political leaders. He is perhaps best known as creator of the character Handala, pictured in his cartoons as a young witness of the satirized policy or event depicted, and who has since become an icon of Palestinian defiance. Naji al-Ali was shot by unknown assailants outside the offices of “al-Qabas”, a Kuwaiti newspaper in London on July 22, 1987 and died 5 weeks later.
كان الصحفي والأديب الفلسطيني غسان كنفاني قد شاهد ثلاثة أعمال من رسوم ناجي في زيارة له في مخيم عين الحلوة فنشر له أولى لوحاته وكانت عبارة عن خيمة تعلو قمتها يد تلوّح، ونشرت في مجلة "الحرية" العدد 88 في 25 سبتمبر 1961. في سنة 1963 سافر إلى الكويت ليعمل محررا ورساما ومخرجا صحفيا فعمل في الطليعة الكويتية، السياسة الكويتية، السفير اللبنانية، القبس الكويتية، والقبس الدولية.
حنظلة: حنظلة شخصية ابتدعها ناجي العلي تمثل صبياً في العاشره من عمره، ظهر رسم حنظلة في الكويت عام 1969 في جريدة السياسة الكويتية، أدار ظهره في سنوات ما بعد 1973 وعقد يداه خلف ظهره، وأصبح حنظلة بمثابة توقيع ناجي العلي على رسوماته. لقي هذا الرسم وصاحبه حب الجماهير العربية كلها وخاصة الفلسطينية لأن حنظلة هو رمز للفلسطيني المعذب والقوي رغم كل الصعاب التي توجهه فهو شاهد صادق على الاحداث ولا يخشى أحد. ولد حنظلة في 5 حزيران 1967، ويقول ناجي العلي بأن حنظلة هو بمثابة الأيقونة التي تمثل الانهزام والضعف في الأنظمة العربية
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 13, 2024
A Child in Palestine collects many of the political cartoons (the kind published in daily newspapers that are typically one panel) created by Naji al-Ali and starring his character Hanthala, a Palestinian child refugee that is meant to represent the people of Palestine.
al-Ali didn't shy away from criticising the Israeli government, the IDF, the US government, Arab elites, the oil trade, and more. These cartoons take a harsh look at the realities of the Palestinian people, especially the refugees who cannot return to their homes. Although these cartoons were published in the 70s and 80s, they unfortunately remain more relevant than ever, offering critiques that were timely when they were released and feel prescient now.
This edition has a decent introduction and bio of the author that really help add context to the overall experience of this collection. It also has excellent captions for each cartoon that not only provide the specific date but add context to the specific images so that readers can fully understand and appreciate what's going on. I wouldn't say this is a book for people who don't know anything about what's happening in Palestine or the history there, but it's accessible for those who have a grasp of the basics thanks to the captions (and having google ready to go will also be helpful for many folks, as it was for me). It's an incredibly moving book, and struck me in the heart more than most political cartoons could. I was particularly moved by the images of Palestinian mothers.
A note on antisemitism: I know a number of reviews have mentioned that this book features antisemitic imagery. I do not remotely think that criticising Israeli government or military action or zionism is necessarily antisemitic, and I don't think any of the text or subtext of this is remotely antisemitic. Specifically in regards to the imagery: I can KIND OF see where people are coming from, but I disagree, so I'm going to explain. Israeli soldiers are represented with a Star of David, and obviously identifying Jews with a star is something that many are rightly sensitive about, but considering that the Star of David is literally on the Israeli flag and many people are identified by their country's flags here I don't think it's inherently a problem. Additionally, most Israeli figures are portrayed as having large noses, a problematic stereotype, however it's incredibly important to note that most figures (including many sympathetic ones) are featured as having large noses. And finally, there's an image of Henry Kissinger in which his nose is a fuel nozzle, giving it a long, hooked appearance. While this ties back to that problematic stereotype, it's important to note that many of the cartoons here feature people with body parts that have shifted into other inanimate objects (keys for feet appear in multiple cartoons here, for example), and Kissinger is portrayed with a normal nose in other places in this very book (and also, I don't give a shit about how people want to portray Henry Kissinger, yimakh shemo). I can understand having a gut reaction to certain imagery, especially considering how prevalent antisemitism has been and for so long, but within the actual context of the work the imagery seems fine, I don't think there's anything in this book that's meant to criticise Jews as a whole, but Israel specifically.
This is definitely worth the read. It's a great chance to read one of the most important cartoonists in the Middle East, to touch on more of the history and politics of the region through the eyes of those who experienced it themselves, and to bear witness to decades of devastation alongside Hanthala.
al-Ali didn't shy away from criticising the Israeli government, the IDF, the US government, Arab elites, the oil trade, and more. These cartoons take a harsh look at the realities of the Palestinian people, especially the refugees who cannot return to their homes. Although these cartoons were published in the 70s and 80s, they unfortunately remain more relevant than ever, offering critiques that were timely when they were released and feel prescient now.
This edition has a decent introduction and bio of the author that really help add context to the overall experience of this collection. It also has excellent captions for each cartoon that not only provide the specific date but add context to the specific images so that readers can fully understand and appreciate what's going on. I wouldn't say this is a book for people who don't know anything about what's happening in Palestine or the history there, but it's accessible for those who have a grasp of the basics thanks to the captions (and having google ready to go will also be helpful for many folks, as it was for me). It's an incredibly moving book, and struck me in the heart more than most political cartoons could. I was particularly moved by the images of Palestinian mothers.
A note on antisemitism: I know a number of reviews have mentioned that this book features antisemitic imagery. I do not remotely think that criticising Israeli government or military action or zionism is necessarily antisemitic, and I don't think any of the text or subtext of this is remotely antisemitic. Specifically in regards to the imagery: I can KIND OF see where people are coming from, but I disagree, so I'm going to explain. Israeli soldiers are represented with a Star of David, and obviously identifying Jews with a star is something that many are rightly sensitive about, but considering that the Star of David is literally on the Israeli flag and many people are identified by their country's flags here I don't think it's inherently a problem. Additionally, most Israeli figures are portrayed as having large noses, a problematic stereotype, however it's incredibly important to note that most figures (including many sympathetic ones) are featured as having large noses. And finally, there's an image of Henry Kissinger in which his nose is a fuel nozzle, giving it a long, hooked appearance. While this ties back to that problematic stereotype, it's important to note that many of the cartoons here feature people with body parts that have shifted into other inanimate objects (keys for feet appear in multiple cartoons here, for example), and Kissinger is portrayed with a normal nose in other places in this very book (and also, I don't give a shit about how people want to portray Henry Kissinger, yimakh shemo). I can understand having a gut reaction to certain imagery, especially considering how prevalent antisemitism has been and for so long, but within the actual context of the work the imagery seems fine, I don't think there's anything in this book that's meant to criticise Jews as a whole, but Israel specifically.
This is definitely worth the read. It's a great chance to read one of the most important cartoonists in the Middle East, to touch on more of the history and politics of the region through the eyes of those who experienced it themselves, and to bear witness to decades of devastation alongside Hanthala.
May 22, 2018
It's hard to get through all of the anti-Semitic imagery, but it's still an important book to read, and the editor provides the necessary context to understand the cartoons.
October 28, 2011
an incredible graphic testament of the palestinian struggle. it is understandably one-sided, but moving and poignant nonetheless. particularly insightful are the views on the arab ruling elite, a bit prophetic even, and more relevant than ever after the arab spring uprisings. the author's death in 'suspicious' circumstances makes it all the more relevant. one to keep and treasure
November 26, 2025
«No tengo otra alternativa que morir o parar de dibujar, que también es morir».
Nayi al-Ali, que dijo esto antes de ser asesinado de un tiro en la cabeza por sus dibujos revolucionarios, se ha convertido en una de las personas a las que más admiro.
Militante comprometido de la causa Palestina que puso su talento y su inteligencia al servicio de su pueblo.
«Si quien hace odas a las aceitunas no ama al agricultor que las ha plantado y no está dispuesto a morir por él, no quiero su poesía ni su romanticismo».
Duele que 40 años después sus viñetas sigan siendo tan actuales, pero lo he disfrutado mucho.
Handala es inmortal y llegará el día en el que pueda crecer tranquilo en su amada Palestina.
«Sé que continuaré en el camino, porque tengo una cita allí... No fallaré. Nos encontraremos un día... todos... los mártires, los hijos de los campamentos y los exiliados aquí y allá, portando la imagen de nuestro país en los ojos. Y Fátima, la palestina, cuyo sufrimiento hace llorar a las montañas... Y nos fundiremos hundiendo el mástil de la bandera de Palestina en la tierra de nuestra patria... y sonreiremos».
Viva la resistencia del pueblo palestino por todos los medios, desde el pincel al fusil. 🇵🇸
Nayi al-Ali, que dijo esto antes de ser asesinado de un tiro en la cabeza por sus dibujos revolucionarios, se ha convertido en una de las personas a las que más admiro.
Militante comprometido de la causa Palestina que puso su talento y su inteligencia al servicio de su pueblo.
«Si quien hace odas a las aceitunas no ama al agricultor que las ha plantado y no está dispuesto a morir por él, no quiero su poesía ni su romanticismo».
Duele que 40 años después sus viñetas sigan siendo tan actuales, pero lo he disfrutado mucho.
Handala es inmortal y llegará el día en el que pueda crecer tranquilo en su amada Palestina.
«Sé que continuaré en el camino, porque tengo una cita allí... No fallaré. Nos encontraremos un día... todos... los mártires, los hijos de los campamentos y los exiliados aquí y allá, portando la imagen de nuestro país en los ojos. Y Fátima, la palestina, cuyo sufrimiento hace llorar a las montañas... Y nos fundiremos hundiendo el mástil de la bandera de Palestina en la tierra de nuestra patria... y sonreiremos».
Viva la resistencia del pueblo palestino por todos los medios, desde el pincel al fusil. 🇵🇸
December 18, 2024
from the river to the sea, palestine will be free!
a collection of al-ali's cartoons, grouped by five main themes, with a little intro to each part and a short description/explanation to each cartoon. very powerful images.
a collection of al-ali's cartoons, grouped by five main themes, with a little intro to each part and a short description/explanation to each cartoon. very powerful images.
January 14, 2026
Incredible cartoons. So relevant to the current political climate. Rest in peace Naji Al-Ali and Free Palestine.
(Big fan of Sacco!!)
(Big fan of Sacco!!)
April 1, 2024
Kiedy projektowałam p🍓lestyńską makatkę, którą chciałam wesprzeć dzisiejszych mieszkańców Gazy, wiedziałam od razu, że musi się na niej znaleźć Handala - 10-letni chłopiec uchodźca, niemy obserwator wydarzeń w świecie arabskim, który od ponad 50 lat jest symbolem P🍓lestyńcztków, szczególnie tych najbiedniejszych najbardziej skrzywdzonych. Postać tę stworzył w 1969 roku rysownik Naji al-Ali. Sam jako dziecko zmuszony był do ucieczki z P🍓lestyny wraz z rodziną w czasie Nakby w 1948 r., wychowywał się w obozie uchodźców i doskonale rozumiał cierpienie, które niesie ten los. Przez 20 lat umieszczał w arabskich gazetach rysunki polityczno-satyryczne, za których pomocą komentował bieżącą sytuację w świecie arabskim, a znakiem rozpoznawczym jego rysunków był właśnie zwrócony tyłem do widza mały chłopiec, w obdartych ubraniach i z rękami najczęściej skrzyżowanymi za plecami. Al-Ali był w swojej satyrze bezkompromisowy i niezależny. O przedstawicielach swojego narodu mówił z wielką empatią i czułością, ale poza tym nie oszczędzał nikogo. Obrywał Izr@€l, USA, Narody Zjednoczone i przywódcy krajów arabskich. Nic dziwnego, że rysownik narobił sobie wielu wrogów. W 1987 roku nieznany zamachowiec oddał w jego kierunku strzały na londyńskiej ulicy. Po kilku tygodniach w szpitalu Naji al-Ali zmarł, jego mordercy nigdy nie schwytano.
W zbiorze „Child in Palestine” zgromadzone są najsłynniejsze rysunki artysty, podzielone tematycznie i opatrzone stosownym komentarzem. Każdy rozdział zawiera notkę o relacji bohatera książki z danym tematem, tworząc krótką biografię Al-Aliego. Wstęp, w którym wyraża wdzięczność za przetarcie ścieżek, dzięki czemu podczas pracy w Gaziei na Zachodnim Brzegu traktowano jego pracę poważnie i przyjmowano z otwartymi ramionami, napisał wielki Joe Sacco.
To co boli najbardziej, to że Naji al-Ali nie żyje od 37 lat, a jego rysunki są nadal tak samo aktualne.
W zbiorze „Child in Palestine” zgromadzone są najsłynniejsze rysunki artysty, podzielone tematycznie i opatrzone stosownym komentarzem. Każdy rozdział zawiera notkę o relacji bohatera książki z danym tematem, tworząc krótką biografię Al-Aliego. Wstęp, w którym wyraża wdzięczność za przetarcie ścieżek, dzięki czemu podczas pracy w Gaziei na Zachodnim Brzegu traktowano jego pracę poważnie i przyjmowano z otwartymi ramionami, napisał wielki Joe Sacco.
To co boli najbardziej, to że Naji al-Ali nie żyje od 37 lat, a jego rysunki są nadal tak samo aktualne.
August 12, 2021
This is not a book to get if you have no knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It's meant to be evocative rather than pedantic, and so what you experience will be largely based on what you bring to it. There are many criticisms of it being one-sided or not nuanced. Naji al-Ali was born (b. 1936) in the Palestinian village of al-Shajara and his family was forced to flee in 1948. The character of Hanthala is an expression of his political consciousness. The images convey longing for homeland, suffering, resistance, etc., and while I expected to see criticisms of the Israeli state and political allies, I was surprised to see at least as much criticism of Arab elites, both within Israel/Palestine and abroad. I did find the captions to be helpful as the cartoons span from 1974 to 1987 (when he was murdered) so it helps with context. I bought this book after having read Radwa Ashour's The Woman from Tantoura in which Hanthala is referenced.
August 22, 2025
Espero que um dia o Handala viva um mundo onde ele não precise mais ver tanta barbárie.
FREE Palestine. 🇵🇸
FREE Palestine. 🇵🇸
September 23, 2012
I am a big fan of Joe Sacco's work. His graphic novel - Palestine - was my introduction to Palestinian question. Because of this, I was very glad to find Naji al-Ali's book, which was endorsed by Joe. Unfortunatelly... It was a mistake...
1.) This is only collection of pictures by Naji al-Ali accompanied with few sentences to explain what is actually (or metaphorically) happening on these illustrations.
2.) There is no insight, argument, history, or logical path which leads you to the conclusion of this particular comic strip.
3.) Incredible one-sidedness. United States, Great Britain, France, United Nations, Israelis, Zionist and Arabian elites are definitely the bad guys.
4.) Palestinians are abolutely the good guys: "Hanthala proudly declares that he is prepared to grasp his Kalashnikov to find the answers." (Page 24)
5.) I don't even think that this is a pro-Palestinian book. I see it rahter like anti-US (and anti-other things which I mentioned above).
6.) False dilemma (If you not with us, you are with US) + Elites are bad and ordinary people are not only good, but also with us: "Arab ruling elites express their allegiance to the US; the Arab street expresses its concern and love for Palestine." (Page 106)
7.) Jesus! "Jesus Christ, on the cross, throws a stone in support of the intifada." (Page 116)
8.) I am very suspicious of anyone, who claims to speak for others, like Hanthala.
9.) On the ironic note: "Upside down, back to front: rulers of the Arab world argue over who best represent US interest in the region. None of them knows anything - they can't even hold the US flag the right way." (Page 89) - And on this drawing, there is US flag with 11 stripes...
So... I really didn't learn anything from this...
PS: I am amazed, how some people give this book high rating, even if they know that this is absurdly one-sided... What if someone would wrote exactly "same" book, only with reversed conclusions like everything is Palestinians fault and The West is flawless... Would it get the same rating? I don't think so...
1.) This is only collection of pictures by Naji al-Ali accompanied with few sentences to explain what is actually (or metaphorically) happening on these illustrations.
2.) There is no insight, argument, history, or logical path which leads you to the conclusion of this particular comic strip.
3.) Incredible one-sidedness. United States, Great Britain, France, United Nations, Israelis, Zionist and Arabian elites are definitely the bad guys.
4.) Palestinians are abolutely the good guys: "Hanthala proudly declares that he is prepared to grasp his Kalashnikov to find the answers." (Page 24)
5.) I don't even think that this is a pro-Palestinian book. I see it rahter like anti-US (and anti-other things which I mentioned above).
6.) False dilemma (If you not with us, you are with US) + Elites are bad and ordinary people are not only good, but also with us: "Arab ruling elites express their allegiance to the US; the Arab street expresses its concern and love for Palestine." (Page 106)
7.) Jesus! "Jesus Christ, on the cross, throws a stone in support of the intifada." (Page 116)
8.) I am very suspicious of anyone, who claims to speak for others, like Hanthala.
9.) On the ironic note: "Upside down, back to front: rulers of the Arab world argue over who best represent US interest in the region. None of them knows anything - they can't even hold the US flag the right way." (Page 89) - And on this drawing, there is US flag with 11 stripes...
So... I really didn't learn anything from this...
PS: I am amazed, how some people give this book high rating, even if they know that this is absurdly one-sided... What if someone would wrote exactly "same" book, only with reversed conclusions like everything is Palestinians fault and The West is flawless... Would it get the same rating? I don't think so...
October 27, 2019
This is a very cool format. It is a collection of political illustrations from the 1970s and 1980s about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. I am not sure if the child was in all the images originally, or if he was added for the book.
I took out this graphic novel to learn more about the Israel-Palestine conflict and it did help. There was a lot I didn't understand and I think it would have helped to have a better understanding of the conflict before reading this. I am glad that there were descriptions and translations under each picture so that I knew what was going on or what message the illustrator was trying to make.
I took out this graphic novel to learn more about the Israel-Palestine conflict and it did help. There was a lot I didn't understand and I think it would have helped to have a better understanding of the conflict before reading this. I am glad that there were descriptions and translations under each picture so that I knew what was going on or what message the illustrator was trying to make.
October 4, 2021
Il bambino palestinese che osserva le sofferenze del suo popolo con le mani dietro la schiena è un potentissimo simbolo di dolore e unità. Naji al Ali è stato un vignettista molto importante per tutto il mondo arabo, ma riconosciutone il valore politico devo dire che le vignette solo di tanto in tanto sono ben calibrate e quindi arrivano come pugni nello stomaco, molte altre volte invece sono fiacche, e lo stile grafico è davvero povero.
March 26, 2024
incredibly incredibly vivid read, beautiful, heart-breaking art, and so much love (and hatred) packed in with so few words. criticisms that this book is “one sided” appear to come from people who are wholly unaffected by this conflict (from the west) and have been fed propaganda equating anti-zionism with antisemitism by their governments who (literally) created and funded this entire genocide. amazing amazing art and incredibly impactful. free palestine 🇵🇸🇵🇸
February 12, 2025
More context would have helped, hence 4 stars. I feel like this book was written for people who already understand the entire 75 years of conflict in-depth, including the roles of other Arab states. I’m glad that there were captions for every image, though.
June 29, 2017
I feel that this collection is just scratching at the surface of his work? Also that there could be more commentary etc. But the cartoons are great.
May 28, 2025
En fantastisk slående og dypt beundringsverdig bok med Naji al-Ali’s rene politiske og artistiske illustrasjoner samlet i en liten bok. Hvert kapittel viser til direkte veiledninger til tema og følges deretter med noen av de mest vekkende tegninger. Boka viser i tillegg en tiltrekkende, men kort reise gjennom al-Ali’s liv og utvikling. Fra hans opplevelser i Palestina til hans tid i flyktningleirer som Ain al-Helweh i Sørlige Libanon, deretter til Kuwait der han var vitne til store regionale utviklinger som Iran-Irak-krigen i horisonten. Frem og tilbake helt til hans tragiske slutt i London der han ble skudt.
al-Ali var bevisst på situasjonen i både Levantin, Gulf-områdene og Vest-Asia som hel. Han så klart og tydelig gjennom sprekkene i veggen og klarte i kort tid å fremme disse gjennom sine illustrasjoner. Dette var hans form for motstand. Dette var hans form for kritikk. Hans livsverk har samtlige vokst i relevans. Han var ikke bundet til å bry seg om restriksjonene selv når han arbeidet for aviser. Illustrasjonene hans omgir seg grove politiske bilder, sorgfulle øyeblikk og kreativ symbolisme så tydelig at selv et barn vil forstå.
Rett og slett, inspirerende for meg som fortsatt føler meg usikker med fullt av tanker om hva jeg bør samt vil tegne. Å uttale seg i visse ting når man holder egenskapen av en blyant, er ofte et spørsmålstegn. Tegner jeg bare for å tegne eller vil jeg utdype det til noe mer?
al-Ali var bevisst på situasjonen i både Levantin, Gulf-områdene og Vest-Asia som hel. Han så klart og tydelig gjennom sprekkene i veggen og klarte i kort tid å fremme disse gjennom sine illustrasjoner. Dette var hans form for motstand. Dette var hans form for kritikk. Hans livsverk har samtlige vokst i relevans. Han var ikke bundet til å bry seg om restriksjonene selv når han arbeidet for aviser. Illustrasjonene hans omgir seg grove politiske bilder, sorgfulle øyeblikk og kreativ symbolisme så tydelig at selv et barn vil forstå.
Rett og slett, inspirerende for meg som fortsatt føler meg usikker med fullt av tanker om hva jeg bør samt vil tegne. Å uttale seg i visse ting når man holder egenskapen av en blyant, er ofte et spørsmålstegn. Tegner jeg bare for å tegne eller vil jeg utdype det til noe mer?
November 25, 2025
This is a great book to read if you are well-informed on the on-going conflicts between Israel, Palestine and Lebanon (which I am not). However, even when you’re ignorant to this history, I think Naji al-Ali’s cartoons convey very well the roots of a lot of the conflicts we see in the Middle East today. You’re not totally left without context.
al-Ali’s character, Hanthala, appears in these cartoons as a witness, facing the scenes with his back turned towards us. Through Hanthala’s gaze, al-Ali calls attention to the on-going suffering of the Palestinian people and pleads that we never forget. The fight for resistance is two-pronged. Naji al-Ali’s cartoons not only strongly oppose Israeli organized aggression, but also criticize the complacency and corruption of Arab leaders.
I also really like this book because it proves how powerful art can be. al-Ali was expelled from Kuwait after constantly being harassed and censored for his cartoons. He relocated to London where he was tragically shot in 1987. But even after his death, he is revered by many as an honest, influential artist who gave voice to the average Palestinian.
al-Ali’s character, Hanthala, appears in these cartoons as a witness, facing the scenes with his back turned towards us. Through Hanthala’s gaze, al-Ali calls attention to the on-going suffering of the Palestinian people and pleads that we never forget. The fight for resistance is two-pronged. Naji al-Ali’s cartoons not only strongly oppose Israeli organized aggression, but also criticize the complacency and corruption of Arab leaders.
I also really like this book because it proves how powerful art can be. al-Ali was expelled from Kuwait after constantly being harassed and censored for his cartoons. He relocated to London where he was tragically shot in 1987. But even after his death, he is revered by many as an honest, influential artist who gave voice to the average Palestinian.
December 20, 2024
I just binge-read this book in one sitting. It’s the ebook version as it was part of my @versobooks subscription. If you follow the news of Palestine you may have seen the cartoon character of Hanthala (sometimes called Handala) depicted. This was the creation of artist Naji al-Ali, a native Palestinian who became a refugee in 1948, displaced to Lebanon.
Al-Ali’s darkly satirical cartoons took aim at Israel, the US and complicit Arab nations in equal measure. As a resident in the Lebanon camps, al-Ali witnessed the 1982 Israeli-backed Sabra and Shatilla massacres after which he emigrated to Kuwait.
After continuing to ruffle the feathers of the Arab elite he was forced into exile whereafter he lived and worked in London. At the age of 50, walking to work in Chelsea, he was shot in the head and died a few days later. That was in 1987. The killer was never found.
Hanthala’s legacy continues as a reminder that today’s conflict is and always has been a manifestation of US military hegemony
Al-Ali’s darkly satirical cartoons took aim at Israel, the US and complicit Arab nations in equal measure. As a resident in the Lebanon camps, al-Ali witnessed the 1982 Israeli-backed Sabra and Shatilla massacres after which he emigrated to Kuwait.
After continuing to ruffle the feathers of the Arab elite he was forced into exile whereafter he lived and worked in London. At the age of 50, walking to work in Chelsea, he was shot in the head and died a few days later. That was in 1987. The killer was never found.
Hanthala’s legacy continues as a reminder that today’s conflict is and always has been a manifestation of US military hegemony
April 21, 2025
I read this as an ebook which I think ruined much of the delivery in terms of the medium, but irregardless a fairly good collection of Al-Ali’s political work, but tragically needing more in the biography and commentary. There’s little substance in these very brief sections, and for all intents and purposes the chapters are identical to each other, with theoretically different subject matters but more or less the same topics being covered. Still would recommend but more for its visual than literary content.
August 25, 2024
Μου άρεσε πολύ η σύλληψη της μορφής του Χάνταλα που παρακολουθεί κι αντιδρά (καποιες φορές), οταν βλέπει τον λαό του να υποφέρει. Επιπλέον, είναι ευρηματικά κι ευφυή τα περισσότερα σκίτσα με το μήνυμα που μεταφέρουν. Δεν εξετάζω αν είναι μονοσήμαντη η ιστορία από το 1948 κι εξής στη λωρίδα της Γάζας και την ευρύτερη περιοχή. Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο δεν είναι ιστορία με την επιστημονική έννοια, αλλά περισσότερο σαν δημοτικά τραγούδια σε σκίτσα, που δείχνουν αγωνία, πόνο, λαχτάρα...
January 10, 2026
I can’t say that the cartoons themselves spoke to me. They didn’t seem insightful, or clever, or trenchant, or really anything of note. But that might just be a question of personal preference.
What was objectively annoying is the fact that there is no translation of the Arabic in many of the cartoons. The captions describe what you’re looking at, but they often don’t translate the words on the page. I can’t think of any good reason for that.
What was objectively annoying is the fact that there is no translation of the Arabic in many of the cartoons. The captions describe what you’re looking at, but they often don’t translate the words on the page. I can’t think of any good reason for that.
July 19, 2024
Brutal, which makes sense, and between the chapter introductions and the captions, there is a lot of explanation, but it is still hard to take in. Of course a lot of time has passed and there is still a lot not widely understood in the West.
I think this will be more meaningful to people who are more familiar with the history, and it may still not be palatable. He criticized everyone.
I think this will be more meaningful to people who are more familiar with the history, and it may still not be palatable. He criticized everyone.
August 24, 2024
Very powerful graphical representation of the politics in Middle East and the role of USA at the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land. The comics are categorised and before every section there is an explanatory text. Not enough to understand all the politics behind but really helpful. Very important book-Must read it.
October 12, 2024
Not just a comic, my friends. Complete with his educational introductions to each section of cartoons, Abdul Hadi Ayyad, helps his readers understand the deeper context of Naji al-Ali's resistance drawings. The five sections include Palestine; Human Rights; US Dominance, Oil, and Arab Collusion; The Peace Process; and Resistance.
October 16, 2021
Naji al-Ali is one of my favorite cartoonists and Sacco has done a great job of archiving his work and integrating it into the story of Palestine.
For my pals in Dubai - you can check this book out at the Jameel Arts Center library.
For my pals in Dubai - you can check this book out at the Jameel Arts Center library.
February 28, 2022
“Palestinian resistance to the Zionists had from the very beginning took artistic and aesthetic forms.”
i’m rather surprised by all the reviews criticizing this books, saying it’s “one-sided”… i’m not exactly sure how anyone could think a series of comics coming from someone who actually LIVED this wouldn’t be speaking from the point of view of someone watching all of these events happen. it’s not “one-sided” it’s the people’s point of view. if you didn’t pick up on that that is most definitely a you problem (no shade i’m just very surprised)
i’m rather surprised by all the reviews criticizing this books, saying it’s “one-sided”… i’m not exactly sure how anyone could think a series of comics coming from someone who actually LIVED this wouldn’t be speaking from the point of view of someone watching all of these events happen. it’s not “one-sided” it’s the people’s point of view. if you didn’t pick up on that that is most definitely a you problem (no shade i’m just very surprised)
December 14, 2024
Hanthala is an enduring symbol of what is and what could be. A symbol so powerful, al-Ali was killed for penning it. The cartoons take aim at everyone, but al-Ali had a powerful voice that cohered the struggles of his people. Free Palestine.
March 17, 2024
Absolutely great to see the art of naji Al ali it's one of the best arts that convey the on going suffering of Palestinians since 1948 onwards
March 31, 2024
Her var det mye vakker og trist. For en symbolikk. Verdt å ta en liten titt i. Verdt å lese seg litt opp på. Forordet til @joe_sacco.1960 er flott! #NajiAlAli
August 4, 2024
4.25 stars
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