Cartoonist Naji al-Ali

Najee al-Ali, a Palestinian cartoonist whose work became a global symbol of resistance, is celebrated in this episode of Great Lives for his fearless satire that targeted not only Israeli occupation but also corrupt Arab leaders, the PLO, and oil-rich regimes. His iconic character, Handala—a barefoot, back-facing child who never turns around until Palestine is free—embodies the enduring trauma and hope of displaced Palestinians. Mona Chalabi, the episode's nominator, draws a powerful parallel between al-Ali’s work and her own data journalism, both rooted in simplicity, truth-telling, and the moral imperative to bear witness. Despite being assassinated in London in 1987 at age 50, al-Ali’s legacy endures: his cartoons still appear on walls, necklaces, and protest signs across the Arab world. The episode reveals how his refusal to take sides—except against injustice—earned him deep respect, even as it cost him his life. His widow risked her safety daily, and his final message remains urgent: 'I felt I had to do something to contribute somehow.' The episode underscores that true satire isn’t about humor—it’s about disruption. Al-Ali’s drawings, intentionally crude and minimalist, were designed to shock the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. As Martin Rosen notes, cartoons are ‘a kind of two fingers up’—a direct, visceral challenge to power. His life and death expose the dangerous truth: when a voice speaks for the voiceless, it becomes a target.