In 2002, a German artist travelled to the city to create an artwork with the children of Jenin made of debris after an invasion. They built a horse (an Arabic symbol of freedom), five metres tall and it stood for 20 years as a symbol of freedom until it was destroyed in October 2023. 

The Horse of Jenin is constructed from the fragments of Alaa Shehada’s own memories and stands as an ode to the power of imagination and the resilience it brings. 

Alaa Shehada (Playwright, Actor and comedian ) is a Palestinian theatre maker and graduate of The Freedom Theatre Acting School in Jenin Refugee Camp – an institution nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024. Shehada uses humor and storytelling to voice Palestinian experiences on global stages.

The Horse of Jenin was awarded The Scotsman Fringe First Award, along with The Outwith Award for international talent. In 2025, he joined comedian Bassem Youssef on stage and delivered a TEDx London talk alongside comedian Nish Kumar.  

The Horse of Jenin

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