The symbolism behind Bella Hadid’s Palestinian key necklace at the Cannes Film Festival 2026

Known as the “key of return,” the symbol is tied to the displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Nakba. GC Images

CANNES, France, May 22 — Model Bella Hadid wore a gold key-shaped necklace symbolising Palestinian identity during an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

The pendant, designed in the shape of historic Palestine, referenced the keys carried by many Palestinians displaced during the 1948 Nakba, which became a symbol associated with the Palestinian “right of return.”

Hadid wore the necklace days after Nakba Day, observed annually on May 15, pairing it with an all-black outfit during appearances at the festival.

The model, whose father Mohamed Hadid is of Palestinian origin, has frequently used fashion and public appearances to highlight her Palestinian heritage.

At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Hadid wore a dress incorporating keffiyeh fabric, a pattern widely associated with Palestinian solidarity.