Kholoud Hammad

Kholoud Hammad is an 22-year-old artist and graphic designer from Jabalia in the north.

“I am proud to have graduated as the top student in the Graphic Design department at GTC College. My efforts opened many doors for me as an independent artist, both in Gaza and internationally, allowing me to support my family and build a life full of accomplishments.

But the war on Gaza changed everything. Everything I worked for—my dreams, my tools, my home—was destroyed in an instant. I lost my design laptop, all my artistic tools, and even my family’s home. Despite the destruction, I tried to turn my pain into creativity using whatever materials I could find.”

Kholoud is also one of the creators of the brand Zawi Pal, a “group of young Palestinians who refuse to be stopped by barriers, borders, or harsh circumstances from dreaming and working.”

“ZAWI was born in the heart of Gaza — where creativity thrives despite all challenges,
and where life is built with patience and determination… From displacement, destruction, and fear, we rose — carrying hope as we carry memory. Airstrikes couldn’t silence us, and explosions couldn’t shake our will. What we lived through turned, in our hands, into design… into a story to be told… into something to be worn. We chose to create — not only to express, but to support. We design to give our families dignity, hope, and a touch of life amidst the pain. We came together to turn our pain into art, and our voice into colors and identity. Our clothing is not just fashion — it’s a cry of love, a flag of pride that never breaks. We believe art can bring change, and that fashion can be a bridge that carries Palestine’s voice to the world.”