The Palestinian and broader community in Victoria come together annually at Federation Square to commemorate Palestine National Day, marking the anniversary of the 1988 Declaration of Independence of the State of Palestine, authored by the poet Mahmoud Darwish and read by Yasser Arafat.
Melbourne's Palestine National Day has become the largest annual Palestinian cultural celebration in Australia and one of the most significant Palestinian National Day events outside Palestine. What began as a community gathering has evolved into a powerful expression of identity, culture, and resilience; uniting thousands of people from diverse backgrounds in a celebration of Palestine's heritage, music, art, food, and enduring struggle for freedom and justice.
The 2025’s 9th commemoration carries deeper meaning and renewed momentum, following Australia's official recognition of the State of Palestine on 21 September 2025. Yet, this recognition takes place amid ongoing Israeli genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and worsening occupation of the West Bank. In this context, an identity design that makes Palestinian culture visible challenges widespread propaganda and has the potential to shift public opinion.
What began as solving practical digital problems for this event became a research journey into Palestinian tatreez traditions, specifically examining how the 8-pointed star pattern has been systematically appropriated in Western contexts. This work reclaims the appropriated motif as a contemporary identity suitable for today’s digital-first world, informed by traditional Palestinian embroidery patterns and historical context.
Event photos: personal documentation, 8 November 2025