At the 17ᵗʰ Algiers International Comics Festival (FIBDA), one exhibition in particular is drawing both attention and emotion. Titled « Palestinian Comics: Individual Voices, Collective Cry », the display on the Riadh El Feth esplanade brings together the works of ten Palestinian comic artists who transform their art into a powerful act of resistance.

In a hushed, solemn atmosphere, visitors move from one panel to another, discovering scenes that speak of life under bombardment, loss, endurance, and dignity. Each frame serves as a silent witness. Through black lines and bold strokes, artists trace the resilience of a people whose memory endures despite occupation. The drawings become voices, cries, and lasting imprints.

The works portray terrified children, destroyed family homes, and the ravaged streets of Gaza. Yet they go beyond depictions of war, highlighting the unwavering determination of a people refusing to disappear. Between despair and hope, these narratives offer a deeply human story, infused with pain, strength, and pride.

The exhibition features the works of Leila Abdelrazaq, Iasmin Omar Ata, Sara Shehadeh, Hassan Manasrah, Hamza Abu Ayyash, Khaled Jarrada, Shahd Alshamali, Dania Omari, Samir Harb, and Mohammad Sabaaneh, a generation of artists who are reimagining how Palestine is represented. Created in often harsh and precarious conditions, their panels document the indescribable: occupation, exile, and loss. But they also reflect life’s everyday moments, humor, tenderness, and solidarity.

Here, comics become a living archive, preserving a history that others try to erase. Each line rekindles a collective memory, with characters that seem to speak on behalf of an entire people. Even under siege, culture remains a form of resistance.

Many visitors spend long moments in silence before the panels. Some take photographs, while others discreetly wipe away tears. This year, FIBDA does more than showcase the ninth art, it reaffirms its political force and human depth.