10 Eid gifts that help support the Palestinians

This Ramadan it has been difficult not to think about the plight of the Palestinians.

As Muslims around the world near the end of their month of fasting, many have held Palestinians of all religions in their prayers, hoping for an end to Israel's attack on Gaza and an end to the occupation and apartheid suffered by Palestinians for decades.

In addition to praying and raising awareness by attending demonstrations and sharing information online, you can support Palestinians through the gifts you choose to give to family and friends.

So here are 10 ideas for Eid gifts that support Palestinians:

Dates from The Date Project

Established in 2015 to raise funds for the Al-Huda Bakery in Syria, The Date Project has now expanded to raising money for a range of initiatives across the world through its specially designed tins.

Each sale of the Dates for Palestine tin (£10) will ensure that water is provided for 100 families in Gaza. The Medjool dates in the tin are ethically sourced from Jordan.

Keffiyeh from Hirbawi

The Keffiyeh was originally worn over the head and shoulders of farmers but has become synonymous with the Palestinians’ quest for freedom.

It was adopted by fighters in the 1930s Arab revolt and became the uniform of Palestinian rebels resisting the British Empire.

The Hirbawi factory is the last in Palestine to produce the Keffiyeh and sells a variety of Keffiyeh on its website.

Due to the current situation, many of its products are out of stock, but you can register your interest to be notified when Keffiyeh are available again – a crucial act of solidarity to help a Palestinian business.

Gift card from Medical Aid for Palestinians

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works to provide health care through programmes in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Lebanon, and its work has become more crucial and more dangerous since Israel began its sustained attack on Palestine in the autumn of 2023.

You can buy family and friends a gift card for MAP, with the money going towards the charity’s emergency response in Gaza (or another fund if you choose) and your loved one gets an e-gift card to mark your present.

Olive tree from Great Charity Gifts

The olive tree is one of the enduring symbols of Palestine, but the attacks on Gaza have resulted in the loss of many that were cultivated by families for years.

Some have been destroyed in the fighting, and others have been left as their owners fled to so-called safer areas, while others still have had to be used by people to burn for warmth.

As a main source of livelihood for over a million Palestinians, the olive tree is essential in sustaining current and future generations, and the loss of them is devastating.

To help restore Palestine’s olive trees, you can purchase one to be planted through Great Charity Gifts. Trees are planted twice a year and take three to five years to start bearing fruit.

"In addition to praying and raising awareness by attending demonstrations and sharing information online, you can support Palestinians this Ramadan (and beyond) through the gifts you choose to give to family and friends"

An e-gift card from UNRWA

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) provides lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza, and its work is under threat due to temporary halts in funding for it from nations including the United Kingdom, America, Australia and Canada, after Israel made unproven allegations about 12 of UNRWA’s employees being involved in the October 7 attacks.

Help to sustain UNRWA’s crucial work by purchasing an e-gift card for a friend or family member.

You can choose to donate to one (or more if you’re purchasing multiple gift cards) of a number of different areas of work UNRWA does, priced from $10 upwards per gift card.

Funds include a Gift of Eid that supports the deployment of psychosocial counsellors in schools in Gaza, a Gift of iftar that provides Palestine refugees with food, or a Gift of Warmth to help ensure Palestine refugees in Syria stay warm this winter.

A handmade gift by a Palestinian artisan from Handmade Palestine

Handmade Palestine is located in Ramallah but works with women artisans throughout Palestine, who sell their crafts through the website.

Whatever your loved ones tastes, you can find beautifully handcrafted items on Handmade Palestine, from jewellery to leather pouches and wooden kitchen utensils.

All purchases from Handmade Palestine enables the organisation to pay fair trade directly to the artisans, and then use leftover money to plant trees in Palestine.

T-shirts from Palestine Solidarity Campaign

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is the biggest organisation in the UK dedicated to securing Palestinian human rights, and if you’ve been on a march or demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Palestine, you’ll no doubt have come across the group, which is one of the key organisers of national demos.

Show solidarity for the work of PSC, and show your support of Palestine, with one of the group’s t-shirts (from £12).

Olive oil from Zaytoun from Palestine

Zaytoun from Palestine is a social enterprise committed to supporting Palestinian farmers through fair trade – 100% of its profits are reinvested into delivering this mission.

It sells a variety of products, including Palestinian extra virgin olive oil, ethically sourced from small-scale farmers in the West Bank.

It was the world’s first olive oil to be awarded Fairtrade certification in 2009. It’s stocked in a variety of retailers, and you can search for your nearest on the Zaytoun from Palestine website.

Pottery from Cafe Palestina

Café Palestina is a social enterprise based in Camden and aims promote Palestinian culture and support its local community through food, authentic Palestinian produce, exhibitions, events and its small library.

It sells a variety of products, including stunning ceramics handmade in Palestine. There are bowls, teapots and more in a variety of designs, and whatever you purchase will be unique because of the handmade nature of the pottery.

Palbox from Palbox

If the person you’re purchasing for likes variety, then a Palbox is the perfect present.

Each Palbox, which can be purchased as a one-off or as part of a subscription service, contains a themed collection of food and items, including olive oil, salt and artwork, that connects you with Palestine's culture and its people.

Sarah Shaffi is a freelance literary journalist and editor. She writes about books for Stylist Magazine online and is the books editor at Phoenix Magazine.

Follow her here: @sarahshaffi