Enter the Archives

Explore Mr. Mahrous's journey through Beersheba

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BFA is the largest collection of original documents belonging to a single Palestinian family and the living memory of Mahrous Bseiso, chronicling Palestinian life from 1906-1977.

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This archive is a unique repository of important family materials that illuminate important aspects of the history of Palestine. I would recommend it to students, researchers, and historians.

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Rashid Khalidi

Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies

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This archive is a unique repository of important family materials that illuminate important aspects of the history of Palestine. I would recommend it to students, researchers, and historians.

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Rashid Khalidi

Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies

Archive

Excerpts around the law, people, and places of historic Palestine contextualize our collection.

Documents

Explore Mahrous Bseiso's vision through land he owned, worked, and developed for the Beersheba community in Palestine.

Stories

Read about Palestinian culture, art, and daily life.

Once Upon a Time in Palestine - TRAILER

Once Upon a Time in Palestine is a story of life in Beersheba before and during the Nakba, seen through the eyes of Mahrous Mustafa Bseiso. It follows his journey as a Palestinian living through years of change, hope, and growing uncertainty. Through his daily life, the film captures a land rich in community and tradition, and the loss of home and autonomy that came before and during the Nakba. Created by Mahrous's grandson, Adel Bseiso, this project is based on a true story and draws from real documents, photographs, and recorded histories preserved over generations. Once Upon a Time in Palestine stands against erasure as a testimony, capturing the story of a family whose life reflects the struggle and endurance of an entire people

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The Voice of Hind Rajab

September 4, 2025

The Voice of Hind Rajab

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News

Elevating official UN statements and other milestone events for BFA along our journey for justice

The Bseiso Family Archive: Ongoing Nakba and the Road to Reparations

Explore the story of Mahrous Mustafa Bseiso as published in the Journal of Palestinian Studies, a key figure in Beersheba during the early 20th century, and how his legacy connects to the founding of the Bseiso Family Archive. The article, written by his grandson Adel Bseiso, reflects on our wider family history and the importance of preserving Palestinian memory in the face of ongoing erasure. Read the full piece to learn more.

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MEDIA

Media

Listen to interviews, original compositions, and other contributions from the Bseiso family and community

October 8th Short Film - Shak Mustafa

October 8th Short Film - Shak Mustafa

May 15th - From Landowner to Refugee

May 15th - From Landowner to Refugee

Burn Me Alive - Shak Mustafa

Burn Me Alive - Shak Mustafa

Executions and Mass Graves in Tantura

Executions and Mass Graves in Tantura

Shouting at the Wall - Mc Abdul

Shouting at the Wall - Mc Abdul

Khabib Praises Ireland for Supporting Palestine

Khabib Praises Ireland for Supporting Palestine

Deira - Saint Levant

Deira - Saint Levant

Wake Up - Llunr

Wake Up - Llunr

Palestinian Embroidery

Palestinian Embroidery

A Cry For God

A Cry For God

Desert Swan

Desert Swan

A Palestinian Life

A Palestinian Life

The Story of Khalid Ibn Al-Walid: The Sword of Allah

The Story of Khalid Ibn Al-Walid: The Sword of Allah

Palestinian Soap

Palestinian Soap

The Bseiso Family Legacy, Introduction to Ancestry

Learn about the origins of the Bseiso family name, a branch of the noble Kayali family.