Colonialism, the Politics of Naming and Lived Toponymy: Identity Struggle and Symbolic Erasure in Palestine

This article examines toponymic transformations in Palestine, exploring how naming practices shape spatial identity in contested geographies. Moving beyond viewing renaming solely as top-down dominance, the research adopts a comparative approach situating Palestine alongside Ireland and South Africa to unpack mechanisms of ‘Memoricide’ and symbolic resistance. Utilising qualitative methodology integrating historical discourse analysis with in-depth interviews, the study proposes the original concept of ‘Palestinian Lived Toponymy’. This framework explores how the relationship between name and place is continuously reshaped through daily mobility and inherited memory, rather than remaining a static map inscription. Findings indicate that toponymic change has evolved into ‘Digital Colonialism’ through navigation algorithms, while revealing community responses ranging from cognitive resistance to functional adaptation. The study concludes by emphasising ‘toponymic literacy’ as a vital tool for steadfastness ( Sumud) against symbolic erasure, offering a critical assessment of how new technology and language generated global solidarity with Palestine and its lived toponymy.