The Qatar National Library (QNL) kicked off a new online event showcasing the colorful and varied culture of Palestine.

The I AM QATAR magazine said ‘Palestine Cultural Week: A Land Worthy of Life’ will run from 8 to 12 August and promises educational and creative activities for adults and children.

"As a guardian of the region’s heritage, it is our responsibility to educate our people about Arab history and heritage. We believe the sessions will help all attendees learn more about Palestinians and understand their fight for freedom," Director of Research and Learning Services at QNL Abeer Saad Al Kuwari said.

The event kicked off on 8 August with a book discussion session on the novel Kilimanjaro Spirit by Palestinian author Ibrahim Nasrallah.

On 9 August, attendees were taken on a virtual "Journey to Al-Aqsa Mosque," located inside the Old City of Jerusalem. Participants had an opportunity to learn about the architecture and design of Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the largest and holiest mosques in the world, including watching a video about the holy site. This session was conducted in Arabic and English for the general public.

On 10 August, attendees got a chance to immerse themselves in the Palestinian folk dance al dabke. Mohammad Salm shared insights on one of the most important traditional Palestinian art forms and a critical element of Palestinian heritage.

On 11 August, attendees got a glimpse into "The Palestinian Keffiyeh: The Symbol of Resistance." Dr. Yehia Zakaria Al-Agha, Ambassador for Cultural and Educational Affairs at the Palestinian Embassy and Vice-Chairman of the Palestinian Schools Board, presented the history of the garment and its transformation into a symbol of resistance.

On the same day, the Library hosted "From the Palestinian Memory," in which director Bashar Hamdan shed light on the initiatives and attempts to collect and document Palestinian archives. The session also highlighted the efforts made to safeguard stolen and lost archives and preserve Palestinian cinema archives, and the importance of employing culture, arts and cinema for the sake of further legitimizing the Palestinian cause. The session concluded with a presentation of Palestinian items from the Heritage Library.

Both programs on 11 August were presented in Arabic with interpretation in English.

On 12 August, visitors learned about traditional Palestinian embroidery, a folkloric tradition passed down through generations and fine art that defines Palestinian women. Feda Allouh talked about how the decorations on the dress indicate the identity of the village or region to which it belongs.

The Library also provided some participants with embroidery tools to fully experience the engaging and educational session with yarns and needles.