test Echoes of Resistance |Education & Theatre

Echoes of Resistance The role of storytelling and performing arts in preserving Palestinian identity

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Published: Nov 29, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/edth.43250
Keywords:
Storytelling performing arts Palestinian identity Gaza hassan Kanafani memory resistance Indigenous peoples graffiti intergenerational trauma digital media
Khitam Edelbi
Dar al-Kalima University
Shams Almanal Timraz
producer, art critic and cultural consultant
Abstract

This article examines the central role of the native voice in transmitting historical memory, emphasising how it sustains collective identity and shapes our vision of the future. In the Palestinian context, storytelling serves as both a cultural archive and an act of resistance, countering fragmentation by maintaining narrative continuity. The analysis engages with embodied art forms such as dabkeh, theatre, literature and mural painting on the separation wall as vital modes of cultural expression and political testimony. The legacy of Ghassan Kanafani is highlighted, recognising his assertion that storytelling is a form of cultural survival and a revolutionary act. Contributions by Khitam Edelbi and Shams Almanal Timraz further ground the discussion. The first is a narrative recounted by Muhibah Edelbi and the second is a performance by Sabha Timraz. Both recount intergenerational memories of displacement from Al-Birwa and Isdud during the Nakba of 1948. These stories serve as a form of mnemonic resistance against erasure. Finally, the article examines the role of graffiti during the First and Second Intifadas, as well as how Palestinian narratives have gained a wider reach through theatre and digital media. These continue to amplify marginalised voices across global platforms.

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Author Biographies
Khitam Edelbi, Dar al-Kalima University

Dr Khitam Edelbi (PhD, Lesley University) is an Expressive Arts Therapies specialist with over 30 years' experience in drama, storytelling, theatre production and art therapy. She currently teaches on the Art Therapy Programme at Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem. Since 2009, Dr Edelbi has been training psychologists and social workers in the use of various artistic methods of expression and psychological support. She worked as an actress in theatre, children’s theatre and cinema for several years. She also writes and tells stories for children. Her doctoral dissertation, Using Playback Theatre with Adolescents in the Qalandia Refugee Camp in Palestine, was published by Lesley University. She has co-written and published several academic papers: “A Colorful Language: Playback Theatre as a Way of Listening with Youth in Palestine” with Hussein-Shannan in 2023, and “Assessment and Cultural Sensitivity Regarding International Graffiti on the Separation Wall in Palestine” with Waybright in 2025.

Shams Almanal Timraz, producer, art critic and cultural consultant

Shams Almanal Timraz is a producer, art critic and cultural consultant with over twenty years of experience in art production and creative consultancy across all disciplines. Of Palestinian origin and raised in Europe, she has dedicated her career to enriching the Palestinian cultural landscape through critical discourse, creative production and strategic consultancy. Her expertise spans film and theatre criticism, artist development and curating programmes that connect local narratives with global audiences. She holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and International Mediation, and has worked in the Middle East for many years. She has managed cultural spaces, led exhibitions and helped shape arts policy. Shams brings unique expertise in cultural mediation and conflict-sensitive creative practices. She is the founder and director of Shams & Rise Arts, a consultancy and production platform that advances independent cultural initiatives with social impact.

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