Ariya Harrington
Class of 2026Alexandria, Virginia
About
Hello! My name is Ariya and my project is on the history of Israel and Palestine, specifically in the Gaza strip. I chose to work on this project because I think it is necessary to understand the history of the area in order to understand the ongoing present day conflict in Palestine. I think it needs to be seen as a product of decades of tensions, not an isolated event that began in 2023. After my project is complete, I would like to get my paper published.Projects
- "Palestinian National Identity and the Question of Settler Colonialism With consideration to the events of October 7 2023, how have scholars/journalists engaged with the subject of Palestinian national identity and indigeneity from the mid-20th century onwards?" with mentor Hamzah (Working project)
Project Portfolio
Palestinian National Identity and the Question of Settler Colonialism With consideration to the events of October 7 2023, how have scholars/journalists engaged with the subject of Palestinian national identity and indigeneity from the mid-20th century onwards?
Started Mar. 17, 2025
Abstract or project description
We will be looking into the subject of Palestinian national identity. Specifically, we will look at how various scholarly interpretations understand it. We will also take into account the recent eruption of interest in the term settler colonialism to interpret Palestine. Ariya has a good framework in place to examine the relevant sources.
Literature review will examine how scholars have interpreted Palestinian national identity during the later half of the 20th century, taking into consideration the differing perspectives of sources (eg nationality, intent of writing) as well as chronology, rhetoric, and definition of national identity. A secondary question will explore how the events of Oct 7 2023 have further shaped interpretations/discussions of Palestinian national identity, as well as discussion surrounding the term 'settler colonialism' in relation to Palestine and Israel.