In 2025, Palestinian music, food and fashion transcended borders, transforming culture into a global language of resistance, identity and survival
For the past two years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, there’s one truth that’s impossible to ignore: Palestinian culture is now reaching the world in a whole new way.
What was once confined mainly to local communities — like the melodies of folk songs, the intricate stitching of traditional dresses, and the flavours of home cooking — has now become a powerful form of activism, a declaration of identity, and a bridge to global audiences eager to understand Palestinian life beyond the conflict’s headlines.
In many ways, this shift has allowed Palestinian culture to become something more: a universal language.
Take, for example, Shil Shil (Carry On) by composer Zeid Helal. The song emerged from the heart of the recent bombardment in Gaza, born out of an urgent need to express what statistics and official statements could not: the lived reality of Palestinian suffering and resilience.
That urgency was mirrored in the public response when Zeid premiered the track alongside its accompanying video. Thousands of Palestinians shared it, performed it, and made it their own, transforming a personal expression into a collective voice.
For Zeid, the song transcended its role as a piece of music. “It’s not just a melody,” he explains. “It’s an embodiment of resistance and Palestinian identity, a vehicle for spreading awareness of our cause.”
The influence of Palestinian culture, particularly through music, did not stop with Zeid’s song; rather, it has reached far beyond the borders of Palestine.
For example, international artists began drawing on Palestinian musical heritage, while social media platforms were filled with videos of people across continents, from South America to Southeast Asia, learning and performing Palestinian songs.
For many, this was the first time they encountered the Palestinian language and the lived experiences of its people.
Redefining Palestinian sound
Khalid Sadouq, a composer and music professor at An-Najah National University in the West Bank city of Nablus, has witnessed this transformation firsthand.
Through his dual role as an educator and an artist, he has a clear view of how conflict reshapes creative expression.
“War has been a pivotal force in the evolution of Palestinian music,” Khalid reflects, noting that in recent years the rise of songs documenting collective pain has given compositions new depth, transforming music that was once primarily entertainment into a record of daily life.
This shift, he adds, has also led to the emergence of new genres, with electronic music producers blending traditional Palestinian instruments with contemporary production techniques to create music that feels both rooted in heritage and urgently relevant, reflecting the Palestinian experience where long-standing cultural traditions intersect with present-day struggles.
However, creating this work comes at a cost, one that Khalid knows well.
“I face multiple challenges in expressing Palestinian issues through music,” he says.
“First, there are social and political pressures that attempt to suppress creativity. There is often censorship around what can be expressed. Second, access to music production tools and distribution platforms is difficult, especially given our economic circumstances.”
Despite these limitations, creativity continues to flourish, with Palestinians long relying on cultural production as an alternative form of expression, especially in areas where media freedoms are restricted.
For Khalid and his peers, these constraints often become a source of motivation, and he explains to The New Arab that he draws inspiration from people’s suffering, which makes the music more authentic.
Looking ahead, Khalid believes that the current global attention could have a lasting impact on Palestinian culture.
“Current events have shown the world Palestinian suffering, which has increased interest in artistic works reflecting this reality,” he says.
“Music has become a tool to capture global attention and deliver a humanitarian message expressing the hopes and pains of our people.”
A kitchen as cultural archive
Beyond music, Palestinian food has become a powerful medium for cultural expression and global recognition.
In her Ramallah kitchen, Heba Al-Haytan works with the same intentionality as a museum curator. Every dish she prepares — the upside-down rice of Maklouba, the roasted tomato and sumac of Musakhan — carries layers of family history and political meaning.
Heba explains that the wider political context shapes daily life, including what happens in the kitchen. “Political circumstances have a tremendous impact on our daily lives, including our kitchens,” she says.
She notes that periods of scarcity and crisis, such as famines, have long inspired Palestinians to innovate with local ingredients, creating new recipes out of necessity.
Over time, these innovations have begun to reshape how the world understands Palestinian foodways.