About Bayyāra
Kiwi-Gazan Owned
Bayyāra was created in 2024 by Noor, a Palestinian from Gaza, and her Kiwi husband Matt.
Crafted in Palestine
We import Hebron ceramics, Nablus soap, extra virgin olive oil, and other Palestinian products.
Solidarity with Impact
Our mission is to support the Palestinian economy, and to help Aussies do the same by purchasing products made in Palestine.
A land of milk and honey.
To tell our story properly, we need to go back to the beginning.
Everyone has heard that Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth, but it wasn't always like that.
Before the nakba (catastrophe) of 1948, Gaza was a city like any other – only more ancient and, according to Gazans, more beautiful. Its temperate Mediterranean climate and fertile soil gave rise to lush groves of olives, dates, strawberries, and citrus.
The original bayyāra.
On the outskirts of Gaza City was a bayyāra (orange grove) belonging to our founder Noor's grandfather, Subhi. Before 1948 and for some years afterwards, the family bayyāra exported Valencia and Jaffa oranges to markets across Europe and West Asia.
After Zionist militants seized control of the land around Gaza, they began to throttle the flow of people and goods, and even the water supply. Eventually, Sido Subhi's bayyāra was no longer viable.
Darkness & light.
There have always been certain things Israeli violence can't extinguish: the local dialect, the tatreez, the surf clubs, the scent of jasmine, the courtyards with their pomegranate trees, and of course the food.
Now, Israel is doing its best to destroy even these indestructible things. We in Australia & New Zealand are far away, and we cannot truly help the resistance. But amid the darkness and grief we can at least spread the brightness and joy of Palestinian food and heritage, throughout Australia and beyond.
From one land of milk and honey to another.
Snapshots from the family album.
