This Is Not a Watermelon T-Shirt

After Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in 1967, public displays of the Palestinian flag in the occupied territories were suppressed and prohibited for years.

The restrictions extended into art. In 1980, the Israeli military shut down an exhibition by Palestinian artists in Ramallah. Artist Sliman Mansour later recalled that an Israeli officer even prohibited images using red, green, black and white. According to Mansour, the officer himself used a watermelon as an example.

A sliced watermelon carries exactly these colours: red flesh, a green-and-white rind and black seeds. The fruit is also deeply rooted in the everyday life and food culture of Palestine and the wider region.

Over the years, the watermelon became a symbol of Palestinian identity, resistance to oppression and the pursuit of freedom and self-determination. It represents a long tradition of Palestinian protest through demonstrations, art and civic engagement. Its history recalls how even peaceful forms of political visibility were restricted and criminalised.

The symbol’s precise origin is told in different ways. Its meaning today is clear: the watermelon keeps Palestine visible, especially where the Palestinian flag or Palestinian voices are censored.

“This Is Not a Watermelon” carries this history into public space. An everyday image becomes a statement for Palestinian freedom, dignity and self-determination.

All profits from Palestine Habibi are used to benefit Palestinians.

Our focus is on aid in Palestine: food, medical support, education and rebuilding. We also strengthen Palestinian visibility, public education and solidarity work.

Every purchase helps make this work possible and carries the message further.

Learn more about our mission

• 100% cotton. Heather colours: 50% cotton, 50% polyester.
• Fabric weight: 170–180 g/m²
• Open-end yarn and tubular construction
• Taped neck and shoulders
• Double stitching at sleeves and bottom hem
• Blank product sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh or Mexico

Due to the material, White may appear more off-white than bright white. Dark speckles are expected in Natural.

This T-shirt is printed only after your order is placed. Please check the size chart and the availability of your preferred colour and size before purchasing.

All measurements are in centimetres. These are garment measurements, not body measurements. For the best comparison, lay a well-fitting T-shirt flat.

How to measure: Length: from the highest shoulder point beside the collar to the bottom hem. Width: straight across directly below the sleeves; this is not the chest circumference. Sleeve length: from the centre back of the collar across the shoulder and along the upper sleeve edge to the sleeve hem.

Measurements are supplied by the manufacturer and may vary by up to 5 cm according to Printful. The variant selector shows which sizes are available in your preferred colour.

For adults. EU warranty: 2 years.

Meets requirements for flammability and limits for lead, cadmium, phthalates and formaldehyde.

Contact for product safety questions under the GPSR: Palestine Habibi, Johannisstr. 45, 58452 Witten, Germany. EU representative: SINDEN VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@sindenventures.com, Markou Evgenikou 11, Mesa Geitonia, 4002 Limassol, Cyprus.

Wash cold and inside out on a gentle cycle. Do not use fabric softener. Air dry. Iron cool and inside out, never directly over the design. Follow the care label as well.

Your T-shirt is printed only after you order. Once it has shipped, you will receive a shipping confirmation with tracking.

The estimate of 5–10 business days applies to Germany. Delivery times vary for other countries. Multiple items may arrive in separate shipments.