Towa Di Profio

Cover Artist

This month our cover is commemorating a year of resistance during the genocide in Gaza and highlighting Palestinian steadfastness and resilience in the face of the illegal Zionist occupation. While this cover might seem insensitively timed to some, the intention is to highlight that the Zionist occupation has been ongoing for the past 76 years and that October 7th was not the start. Besides the 42,000+ identifiable Palestinians killed & 100,000+ injured by Israel over the last year, major human rights associations (including the UN’s highest court) have found Israel to be guilty of maintaining an apartheid state. Additionally, the 1948 Nakba—Israel’s creation and initial occupation of Palestine—displaced over 700,000 Palestinians, whose descendants are still living in refugee camps or exile. According to the UN and B’tselem, Israel killed 7,958 Palestinians from 1987-2023 (before October), including 2,329 in 2014 alone, while 729 Israelis had been killed by Palestinian resistance in the same timeframe. 

I want to clarify the subjects I have drawn for this month and their significance. The “key” is a very prominent symbol in Palestinian resistance. It represents the original keys of homes lost during the Nakba (1948) and occupation, symbolising justice and the right to return. The olive trees play a very important role in Palestinian heritage and culture, symbolising the strong connection Palestinians have with their land. Additionally, the characters in the cover wear a scarf adorned with intricate patterns, known as a keffiyeh. Keffiyehs are often worn by palestinian-allied activists and supporters as a symbol of solidarity. Finally, a Palestinian and Lebanese flag are present in the background. Palestine’s flag holds a significance of sovereignty and resistance. I thought it was important to add the flag of Lebanon due its shared history of struggle alongside Palestine against Zionist occupation and in light of Israel’s recent bombing and invasion of Lebanon. Thanks! See you next month!

-Towa Di Profio, Cover Artist