Cincinnati City Council to discuss World Keffiyeh Day resolution Thursday

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – The Israel-Hamas War is entering its eighth month now and tensions have only grown higher since the fatal bombing in Rafah City, a zone that was designated as safe for those still trapped in Gaza.

As protests and boycotts continue across the U.S. and the world, pictures have flooded social media showing a unique, intricate pattern worn on the heads and shoulders of Palestinians and Palestinian supporters. It is called a Keffiyeh, and each line, shape and color holds an important meaning to those who wear it.

On Thursday, the Cincinnati City Council will discuss a resolution recognizing May 11 as World Keffiyeh Day, submitted by council member Scotty Johnson.

If adopted, the resolution will not only celebrate World Keffiyeh Day but May 11 will also become a day for Cincinnati to stand in solidarity with Palestine and honor Palestinian culture.

“The keffiyeh has unfortunately been misappropriated and misrepresented in Western media and popular culture, where it is often associated with terrorism or hate, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and biases,” the resolution says. “It is essential to recognize and honor the cultural significance of the keffiyeh, while condemning its wrongful association with terrorism or hate.”

What is a keffiyeh?

A keffiyeh, also called a kufiya, is common to see people wear in the Middle East, especially Palestinians. The traditional headdress is a “symbol of a person’s cultural identity, heritage and solidarity,” the resolution says.

While the accessory may seem to be just a scarf, a keffiyeh holds deep value to the Arab world, and now even more so to Palestinians.

What do the patterns mean?

Keffiyehs will typically have a fishnet pattern, bold lines and “sea waves” or “olive leaves” on it, and they come in black and white or red and white.

According to Hirbawi, the fishnet represents the livelihood of Palestine and its relationship with the sea. The bold lines are the trade routes that pass through Palestine and the sea waves or olive leaves stand for the resilience and strength of Palestinians.

The last time Pro-Palestinian organizers tried to persuade the city council to pass a resolution, they did not get the outcome they hoped for.

Instead of a permanent ceasefire resolution, the majority of council members passed Anna Albi’s resolution: a 6-week ceasefire.

City council’s meeting begins at 2 p.m. on Thursday.

FOX19 NOW reached out to Cincinnati Pro-Palestinian organizations and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati for comment.

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