In a world where postage often reflects politics, new research highlights how Palestinian stamps have long served as tools of identity, defiance, and propaganda. The latest issue of Canadian Stamp News examines how, amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, postage imagery continues to shape narratives of statehood and sovereignty.
In “How stamps shaped Palestine’s political message,” writer Jesse Robitaille explores how Hamas leaders, between 2009 and 2019, issued more than 150 stamps to legitimize authority in Gaza and spread ideological themes. These designs – celebrating martyrdom, resistance, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque – were never recognized internationally but, as one researcher reveals, became a key instrument in myth-making and nation-building.
The story also ties Canada’s evolving foreign policy to philately, from the recent recognition of the Palestinian State to the controversy surrounding Canada Post’s 2010 joint issue with Israel. Together, these examples show how postage can transcend its purpose, becoming a stage for political messaging and moral debate.
With insight from new academic research, the article connects current global diplomacy to the powerful symbolism of stamps, proving that even small pieces of paper can carry messages capable of shifting international narratives.
Read the full story in the latest issue of Canadian Stamp News. Subscribe today to stay informed on how stamps – past and present – continue to reflect the world’s most pressing social, cultural, and political stories.