Ayah and Wafa Ghnaim, as guardians of Palestinian Tatreez, embody the enduring symbol of resistance against the ongoing Israeli occupation. This artful embroidery tradition, passed from mother to daughter for centuries, encapsulates a profound narrative of resistance and resilience against the backdrop of subjugation and displacement. Originating as a communal practice, Tatreez adorned garments with symbols reflecting regional identity and societal roles. Through periods of conflict, such as the first intifada, Palestinian women ingeniously wove forbidden symbols into their Tatreez, amplifying their protest against erasure. However, in the modern era, commercialization threatens to dilute its radical origins. Yet, advocates like Ayah and Wafa Ghnaim champion its preservation, emphasizing its role not just as a craft, but as a conduit for heritage, protest, and, ensuring that Tatreez remains a testament to Palestinian resilience, one stitch at a time, even amidst the atrocities of ongoing genocide.
