Khalil Ghaith, the Palestinian “refugee painter” in Jordan

Khalil Ghaith, the Palestinian “refugee painter” in Jordan

A prominent mural adorns one of the narrow alleys of the Baqa´a camp in Jordan, highlighting the suffering of Palestinian refugees, and reflecting their dreams of returning to their homeland, Palestine.

Artist Khalil Ghaith stands next to this mural to put his final touches on it, so that the painting reflects what he remembers.

On the occasion of World Refugee Day, which falls on June 20 every year, Ghaith, 55, says that for many camp residents the meaning of this painting is more than just a decoration.

Ghaith says his paintbrush is like his gun

Ghaith, who is known as the “refugee painter” inside the camp, added that through drawing he contributes all his creativity and passion to the Palestinian refugee cause for decades.

Ghaith continued, “I record the life of Palestinian refugees through art because I consider it part of the Palestinian struggle and a witness to the suffering of the Palestinian people.”

He pointed out that after the 1967 war, he was forced to flee to Jordan with his family at the age of one. He has since been living in the Baqa´a refugee camp (27 kilometers northwest of Amman), which currently hosts more than one hundred thousand Palestinian refugees.

Driven by the pain and oppression experienced by the refugees, he asserted, he considers his paintbrush to be a "gun" of resistance that extends across the camp´s murals.

“You should also show people art on the streets, and tell them your cause,” Ghaith said.

He explained that the murals can convey a message to visitors about the identity of the site as a refugee camp, where many refugees struggle to survive, at the same time, it reminds the people inside the camp, especially children, not to forget their identity and history, and that the Palestinian issue has not yet been resolved.

Ghaith: I painted the key in most of my paintings, indicating that the right of return requires great sacrifices.”

Ghaith, who holds a degree in information technology from the University of Jordan, added that “the United States of America and other dependent countries tried many times to prevent us from thinking about our rights to return to the homeland (Palestine), while they tried to make our identity dissolve in the host societies.”

Ghaith continued, “This world must see the pictures and hear the voices of the refugees’ suffering caused by Western powers, and for this reason, when I paint the mural, I post it on social media, in addition to teaching refugee children lessons in art and history, asking them not to forget the right of Go home.

Ghaith said: "We kept the keys to our homes in Palestine as a symbol of the right of return, and I painted the key in most of my paintings, indicating that the right to return to the homeland requires great sacrifices."

Ghaith´s paintings are distinguished for their important themes that refer to the concept of Palestinian identity and how to preserve it through its symbols and formations. His drawings often include the historical map of Palestine, the keffiyeh, the key to return, posters of martyrs and prisoners, articles of revolutionaries and leaders, in addition to weapons and the “Palestinian dress” And the heritage that extends through past ages, to remain a beacon of struggle, struggle and resistance.

It is noteworthy that the artist Khalil Ghaith was born in 1966 and participated in many exhibitions in Jordan.