A glimpse of Palestinian culture in Torshov

In Ibrahim, we meet a lively man who eagerly conveys the warmth, beauty, and hospitality of Palestinian culture. His vision for Nasser Palestine is to share the importance of culture and to carry forward his grandmother’s legacy of love for the land and its traditions. 

Ibrahim illustrates the vital role of community in Palestinian society by highlighting that poverty is rare, as people take care of one another. He also challenges assumptions about religion, pointing out that Christians and Muslims in Palestine share many food traditions and are invited to each other’s religious celebrations. 

Nasser lives up to this by hosting community dinners where different people can participate and learn about the food culture.

For Ibrahim, the influence of the occupation is not solely a story of loss and despair, but one of endurance and resilience even in the harshest circumstances. He taught us the Arabic word for resilience, “صمود (Sumuud)”, a concept deeply rooted in Palestinian identity. Ibrahim reminds us that Palestinians will prevail like the olive trees that have stood for hundreds of years and have become a symbol of resistance. 

This connection to the land, and by extension the food it produces, explains why both hold such profound meaning for Palestinians.

This perspective turns common perceptions of Palestine upside down — from the familiar images of a cold, war-torn place with starving children dependent on humanitarian aid, to a strong and vibrant Palestine defined by resilient, warm, and hospitable people who remain steadfast. 

As Ibrahim puts it, “Palestinians are pushed to the extreme of emotion. Survival makes you live extreme in everything you do, also in loving and in writing. We get to live the maximal human experience… occupation and love of the land came together as poetry.”

In his store, Ibrahim offers a variety of Palestinian products imported from the West Bank, including tea, za’atar, sumac, tahini, and almonds. Through this work, he helps create jobs in the West Bank.

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Jonah Schrøder, 26 years old. Studies Master in Political Science/ Bachelor in Middle Eastern studies.

Katja Ali, 26 years old. Studies Middle Eastern studies at the University of Oslo.

Iris Björg Petursdottir, 23 years old. Studies Social Economy at the University of Oslo.

Ane Lundereng, 26 years old. Studies Political Science at the University of Oslo.