JEDDAH: All across Jeddah, one can spot youths wearing scarves sporting the Palestinian national colors — red, green, black and white — in a show of silent public solidarity with the people of Gaza.

The Palestinian black and white checkered scarves — some with green, red and white tassels, and others in their original form — have sprung up across Jeddah with both local and expatriate youths wearing them as they go about their daily lives.

The scarf, known as “Kaffiyah” by Palestinians and “Shumagh” by Saudis, is the easiest recognizable symbol of the Palestinian nation.

Omar, a Saudi in his early 30s, stood in front of a coffee shop on Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street (formerly known as Tahlia Street) wearing a Palestinian scarf. “We feel angry as we helplessly watch on our TV screens the massacre of Gazans by Israel. Our Palestinian brothers and sisters are being murdered in cold blood,” he said.

“I am concerned and I wish to show my solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters in Gaza ... I believe it (the scarf) keeps the Palestinian cause alive in me and it serves as a remembrance for others who see it as well,” he said.

Palestinian Consul General in Jeddah Ahmed Shaath told Arab News that the Palestinian Embassy has been inundated with calls from both Saudis and expatriates asking for scarves. He said the Palestinian Consulate is giving out scarves for free. “They’re in high demand. We are on the verge of running out of our current available stock,” he said, adding that the consulate has ordered for more to meet public demand. Meanwhile, many people are buying the original black and white headdress (Shumagh), which can be purchased in shops for around SR25.

Fatima, a 37-year-old Saudi woman, has draped the Palestinian scarf over her abaya. “I can’t be there, I can’t take away their pain or their loss,” she said, “but this is my way of saying my heart and prayers are with them.”

Shoruog, 15, has been wearing the Palestinian scarf to school since last week. “There are girls of my age being bombed in their beds,” she said. “It could’ve been my sisters, it could’ve been me in their place and yet I’ve got a country and a home. My family and I are safe. I wear the scarf as a way of reminding myself and anyone who looks at me about the killing in Gaza.”

Fahda said the scarf is a silent way to protest. “A group of my friends and myself have made a pact to wear the scarf until this ends. We wake each other up early to pray for those in Gaza before going to school. We’ll continue to do this until Israel stops killing people in Gaza.”

Rasha, 24, said, “I wear it in unity with the Palestinians in Gaza ... My whole family is wearing a scarf.”

Many people in Jeddah have also received calls from friends and family members overseas asking them to send them Palestinian scarves and Shumaghs so that they can also show solidarity with the people of Gaza.