Original Banksy artworks recovered from Gaza go on display in Dubai
Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza Two of Banksy's original works created during his 2011 trip to Palestine are on display in World Art Dubai. The stencilled street art pieces, titled Toxic Fuel and Running Coppers, were 'rescued from the Gaza Strip 14 years ago' according to Kimberley McMahon, chief executive of Wonderwall Fine Arts, which is exhibiting the pieces in partnership with Qube Art Gallery. 'We haven't released the pieces to the public eye yet,' McMahon added. 'None of the original artworks are for sale – Banksy is priceless.' Limited-edition prints of the pieces will be available for purchase through the firm from the end of May. Banksy has produced artworks in Palestine since the mid-2000s, with identifiable pieces by the artist spotted in Gaza and the West Bank. Collections of the works have been unofficially dubbed "West Banksy". The work often depicts scenes of military oppression. Gaza, in particular, has been a focal point for the artist. In 2015, Banksy released a tourism video about Gaza. 'Make this the year you discover a new destination. Welcome to Gaza,' the caption sardonically read. The video showed footage of young children in the street interspersed with scenes of Israeli military vehicles, with a voice adding: "The locals like it so much they never leave, because they're not allowed to." The sub-two-minute film finished with a quote, spray-painted on a wall, which read: 'If we wash our hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless we side with the powerful – we don't remain neutral.' More than 400 artists and galleries are participating in this year's World Art Dubai, with representation from more than 65 countries. The fair is running at the World Trade Centre until Sunday. The event is focused mainly on accessible art, with pieces priced between $100 and $20,000. World Art Dubai also includes a robust talks programme, delving into topical issues such as the impact of artificial intelligence on art.
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Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Middle East Eye
'Hypocrisy': Zadie Smith faces backlash after signing letter calling for Gaza ceasefire
On Wednesday, a total of 380 writers and organisations signed a letter condemning the Israeli government's actions in Gaza as 'genocidal' and urged for an immediate ceasefire. Among the signers were Zadie Smith, Ian McEwan, Russell T Davies, Hanif Kureishi, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, and George Monbiot. The letter states that describing the situation in Gaza as "genocide" or involving "acts of genocide" is no longer a matter of debate among international legal experts or human rights groups. It was also signed by notable authors and figures such as William Dalrymple, Jeanette Winterson, Brian Eno, Kate Mosse, Irvine Welsh, and Elif Shafak. This letter coincided with another letter published on Thursday to the UK government by 300 British artists, doctors, activists and academics, who urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end UK complicity in Gaza war crimes and help broker an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Brian Cox, Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, and broadcaster Gary Lineker are among the signatories of this letter. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Some of the letter's signatories, like Lineker and Cox, for instance, have been vocal about the war for months, but many others have remained silent. While many on social media cheered on these letters and supported the calls for a ceasefire by such prominent names, many said the letter was a little too late. We reject these letters. The time has passed for these letters to have any legitimacy. These letters are now used to whitewash the silence and worse whitewash the active complicity of authors like @ZadieSmith in the genocide of the Palestinian people. — Danya (@dandoon_danya) May 28, 2025 Specifically regarding the letter signed by Smith and other authors, many social media users expressed anger due to her previous comments about Israel and Palestine in a 4 May 2024 New Yorker article. In this article, while talking about Israel's war on Gaza and the crackdown on pro-Palestinian students on western campuses, Smith wrote, 'In the case of Israel/Palestine, language and rhetoric are and always have been weapons of mass destruction.' At the time, many on social media harshly criticised these statements, saying that Smith compared the language of the students protesting in support of Palestine to weapons of mass destruction. Today, when the letter by Smith and other prominent authors came out, the same anger resurfaced, with many showing their resentment towards the author. Zadie Smith signed an open letter calling Israel's actions in Gaza genocide. When tens of thousands of Palestinians had already been killed, she was calling for "nuance." Now, she's trying to save her reputation. I threw all her books in the bin and will never buy another. — Carlos Azevedo (@cprazevedo) May 28, 2025 Many suggested that Smith helped 'manufacture consent for criminalising Palestine solidarity campus protests' with that New Yorker article, but now is only trying to 'save her career'. Zadie Smith helped manufacture consent for criminalizing Palestine solidarity campus protests by calling protest slogans "weapons of mass destruction," and now she wants to subscribe to the letter calling it a genocide. Girl, fuck all the way off — Anita Zsurzsan 🇵🇸 🕎 (@iamjourjean) May 28, 2025 Many social media users said that Smith is only 'trying to rewrite her culpability' because of the discourse she used in the New Yorker article, criminalising students and having a reductive stance on Israel's war on Gaza. God give me the strength to handle repulsive pro-genocide people trying to rewrite their culpability. The day started with Zadie "I know I said protesting genocide is evil but now it wins Pulitzers so I changed my mind" Smith and now this absurdity. — Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) May 28, 2025 In the face of such letters, many social media users also referred to what they termed as 'hypocrisy' and 'two-siding' Israel's war on Gaza, which until now has killed over 54,000 people since October 2023. Worth revisiting this Radar now that Zadie Smith has come around a year later. I'm glad she's signed the pro-Palestine letter. I just wish it didn't take over year and a half of obvious genocide for her to stop both sidesing the issue. — Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) May 29, 2025 Since Israel's war on Gaza started, many prominent artists have repeatedly called for a ceasefire and a stop to the war on the enclave. These letters are the latest examples of such calls, and they have garnered more reaction and support because they include prominent figures from the film and literary worlds. Artists have also faced censorship and criticism from pro-Israeli supporters due to their advocacy for Palestine. One example of this was when over 750 artists signed a letter criticising the Royal Academy of Arts for 'anti-Palestinian censorship' after it removed two artworks about Israel's war on Gaza from its Young Artists' Summer Show.
The National
3 days ago
- The National
Benedict Cumberbatch and Dua Lipa among 300 public figures calling UK government to end 'complicity' in Gaza
More than 300 public figures have signed an open letter calling on the British government to cease what they describe as its 'complicity in the horrors in Gaza.' The letter was initiated by the UK-based charity Choose Love and is addressed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It features figures from across the entertainment industry, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Dua Lipa, Annie Lennox, Tilda Swinton and Riz Ahmed. 'We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza,' the letter, obtained by Sky News, reads. 'Right now, children in Gaza are starving while food and medicine sit just minutes away, blocked at the border. Words won't feed Palestinian children – we need action. Every single one of Gaza's 2.1 million people is at risk of starvation, as you read this. 'Mothers, fathers, babies, grandparents – an entire people left to starve before the world's eyes," the letter continues. "290,000 children are on the brink of death – starved by the Israeli government for more than 70 days.' The letter urges the British government to block sales of UK arms to Israel. It also calls for immediate humanitarian access to Palestinians for aid agencies, and for the UK to help in brokering a ceasefire. 'Words won't save the lives of Palestinian children as they are being killed, words won't fill their empty stomachs,' Josie Naughton, co-founder and chief executive of Choose Love, said in the open letter. 'We need action from Keir Starmer now. That means stopping all arms sales and licences, making sure that legitimate humanitarian organisations can reach people in Gaza. It means doing everything possible to make these horrors end. Action is a choice, just as inaction is one. History will remember what we did in this moment. We are begging the Prime Minister to make the right choice.' The letter was co-signed a handful of Arab figures, including surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta and filmmakers Farah Nabulsi and Waad Al Kateab. 'History is written in moments of moral clarity,' the letter concludes. "This is one. The world is watching and history will not forget. The children of Gaza cannot wait another minute. Prime Minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?' Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 54,084 Palestinians and injured 123,308 since October 7, 2023, the enclave's Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Israel resumed military operations in the territory on March 18 ending a two-month ceasefire. Since then, 3,924 people have been killed. The Israeli military began its offensive after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel and killed 1,200 people. The complete list of signatories: Abigail Lawrie Abnit Nijjar Afua Hirsch Aimee Croysdill Aisling Bea Aiysha Hart Alewya Alex Eagle Alex Hannaby Alex Lockwood Alex Lawther Alex Boateng Alexei Sayle Alexi Lubomirski Alexis Bamforth Alice Aedy Alison Oliver Amalia Vitale Amanda Rajkumar Amber Massie-Blomfield Amelia Dimoldenberg Amy Jackson Anais Aida Andi Oliver Andrea Kapos Andrea Riseborough Andrew Wilkinson Andy Sewell Anna Chancellor Anna Hussain Annabelle Wallis Annie Lennox Annie Mac Anoushka Shankar April De Angelis Asif Kapadia Basma Khalifa Becky Bowe Becky Hill Bella Freud Ben Howard Benedict Cumberbatch Bill Paterson Brian Cox Brian Eno Caitriona Balfe Callum Grieve Camilla Brady Camilla Whitehill Camille Charriere Candice Brathwaite Carmen Busquets Cassandra Stavrou Cathy Runciman Cecily Eno Celina Teague Charlene Ryan Charlie Waterhouse Charlie Murphy Charlie Brooker Chloe Abrahams Chris O'Dowd Clare Patey Clover Hogan Cosima Davies Courttia Newland Dame Harriet Walter Dame Tracey Emin DBE RA Dan Smith Daniel Lismore Danny Boyle David Lan Dawn O'Porter Dawn Butler Daze Aghaji Deanna Rodger Deborah Curtis Deborah Frances-White Deirdre Moran Denise Gough Dermot O'Leary Díana Bermudez Dr Ghassan Abu-Sitta Dr Inua Ellams MBE, FRSA, FRSL Dr James Smith Dua Lipa Dylan Brady Ed Burnside Ed Gillespie Edward Davis Eleanor Tomlinson Elizabeth Slade Ellis Howard Emma Findlay Emma Naomi Eve De Haan Eve Ensler Everyday Racism Farah Nabulsi Farrah O'connor Federico Gaggio Felix White Fisayo Akinade Frederica Lovell-Pank Gary Lineker Geoff Lumb George Gwynne Giada Lubomirski Gideon Berger Giles Duley Giles Taylor Gizzi Erskine Grace Campbell HAAi Hannah Menzies Hannah Lowe Harriet Walter Harry Williams Hildegard Bechtler Himesh Patel Ian Drysdale Ian Kershaw Ian Rickson Ieuan Williams Imad Al Arnab Imran Yusuf Indira Varma Isabella Nefar Jack Casey Jack Rooke Jake Dunn James Smith James McVey Jamie Byng Jan Woolf Jemima Khan Jen Brister Jess Mills Jessica Fostekew Jessie Ware Jo Rendle Joel Gray Joel Murphy John Fass John Keane John Lithgow Johnny Bleasdale Jolyon Maugham KC Jolyon Rubinstein Jon Hopkins Jonathan Pryce Jordan Stephens Joy Crookes Julie Hesmondhalgh Juliet Stevenson Juno Dawson Katharine Hamnett Kathy Lette Katie Davies Katie Leung Kelly Eastwood Kerry McDermott Khalid Abdalla Konnie Huq Laline Paull Lara Savikl Laura Hawkins Laura Whitmore Laura Bailey Lauren Lyle Lauren Mayberry LED BY DONKEYS Lee Hall Lena De casparis Lena Headey Lennie Ware Leyla Hussein Liam Smith Lilly Heine Lily Cole Linda Maitland Lise Mayer Livia Giuggioli Firth Lolly Adefope Lorna Tucker-McGarvey Lottie Coll Louisa Young Love Ssega Lydia West Mabel Mackenzie Davis Maddy Neghabian Mae Martin Malcolm Garrett Marcia Cross Margo Mars Mark Grimmer Mark Ruffalo Marli Siu MASSIVE ATTACK Matt Black Matt Haig Max Porter Maxine Peake Meera Soda Melisa Basol Merck Mercuriadis Mhoira Leng Michael Collins Michelle Mao Misan Harriman Mohsan Alvi Morgan Spector Moss Barclay Munroe Bergdorf Myriam Francois Nabhaan Rizwan Nadia Sawalha Najjib Rahman Nancy Strang Nansi Nsue Natalie Pinkham Nathalie Emmanuel Nathaniel Curtis Neil Griffiths Neneh Cherry Nicholas Donovan Nicola Coughlan Nicola Thorp Nicole Cox Nihal Arthanayake Nikesh Shukla Nikesh Patel Nikita Gill Nilly (Pauline) Brook Nish Kumar Noé Sébert Noomi Rapace Olivia Marcus Olivia West Oluwakemi Davies Omar Abdel-Mannan Onjali Q Rauf Ophelie Bedier Paapa Essiedu Paloma Faith Patrick Walker Paul Ewen Paul Laverty Paul Reynolds Payzee Mahmod Pete Wyer Peter Straughan Phoebe Collings-James Poppy Ajudha Primal Scream Professor Jacqueline Rose Rachel Chinouriri Raghib Ali Rebecca Hall Rehana Kapadia Richard Bacon Riz Ahmed Robert Diament Robert Gilbert Roger Hartley Rosa Hesmondhalgh Rose Williams Rosie O'Donnell Ruby Stokes Ruth Negga Sabrina Mahfouz Sadie Frost Salena Godden Sam Fender Sam Roddick Samuel West Savannah Miller Scott ODonnell Seamus McGarvey Shalini Peiris Shappi Khorsandi Sharmadean Reid Sharon Watson Shelagh Wright Sheridan Kates Shola Mos-Shogbamimu Siobhan McSweeney Sophia Di Martino Sophie Hunter Sophie Willan Stephen Kapos Steve Coogan Sunetra Sarker Susan Wokoma Sydney Lima Sylvia Banafsheh Brook Taban Shoresh OBE Tadhg Hickey Tallulah Greive Tanya Haj-Hassan Tilda Swinton Tim McInnerny Tobias Menzies Toby Jones Tom Rutherford Tony 'Gad' Robinson Tracey Seaward Twana Omer Tyler Richardson Tyson McVey Vic Hope Victoria Harwood Victoria Moseley Waad Al Kateab Waleed Elgadi Will Attenborough Will Sharpe WolfAlice Wretch 32 Yasmin Evans Yomi Adegoke Zareen Rahman Zarlasht Halaimzai Zawe Ashton Zowie Broach
Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Middle East Eye
Benedict Cumberbatch among more than 300 artists urging Starmer to end UK arms sales to Israel
More than 300 British artists, doctors, activists and academics have signed an open letter urging British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end UK complicity in Gaza war crimes and broker an immediate and permanent ceasefire. The prominent public figures have also demanded that the prime minister suspend all UK arms sales to Israel. "We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza," the letter starts. "Violence stamped with UK inaction - flown with parts shipped from British factories to Israel, could be obliterating families in seconds. Each arms shipment makes our country directly complicit in their deaths." Amongst the signatories are singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Brian Cox, Toby Jones and Andrea Riseborough, broadcaster Gary Lineker, film director Danny Boyle, and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The main demands outlined in the letter urge Starmer to suspend UK arms sales and licences to Israel, ensure full humanitarian access across Gaza without military interference, broker an immediate ceasefire, and put an end to the starvation wrought on the besieged enclave. "Over 15,000 children have already been killed - including at least 4,000 under the age of four. Bedrooms where children once slept, kitchens where families shared meals, schools where they learned - all reduced to rubble while Britain stands by," the open letter read. "History is written in moments of moral clarity. This is one. The world is watching and history will not forget. The children of Gaza cannot wait another minute. Prime Minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?" Since the start of the war on Gaza, the Israeli military has killed more than 54,000 people, the majority of them children and women, and wounded more than 123,300 people. The Government Media Office in Gaza reported on Wednesday that more than 18,000 children are estimated to have been killed over 19 months of Israeli attacks, including 16,854 confirmed deaths. Among the children killed, 916 were under one year old; 4,365 were aged one to five; 6,101 were between six and 12; and 5,124 were aged 13 to 17. Starvation and lack of humanitarian aid The signatories have condemned the total Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip that has left the population facing acute hunger. They stressed that the UK must ensure "full humanitarian access across Gaza for experienced aid organisations without military interference." "Right now, children in Gaza are starving while food and medicine sit just minutes away, blocked at the border. Words won't feed Palestinian children - we need action... Mothers, fathers, babies, grandparents - an entire people left to starve before the world's eyes," the letter said. What's inside the boxes of aid being distributed in Gaza? Read More » "290,000 children are on the brink of death - starved by the Israeli government for more than 70 days. They cry until they can't cry anymore - until hunger takes even their voices. And their parents are left to do the unthinkable: hold them, and wait." Israel sealed off Gaza's borders on 2 March, blocking the entry of all international aid and goods, including basic food items, hygiene supplies, and fuel. On 1 April, all 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme across the Gaza Strip shut down due to the lack of wheat flour and fuel. Since Tuesday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a controversial US-backed group that has been approved by Israel to take over aid distribution in the enclave, has claimed to have handed out just 14,000 food boxes to Palestinians - a fraction of what aid agencies say is needed to address the mass starvation unfolding in the strip. The new aid system, which limits food distribution to a small number of hubs guarded by American security contractors, seeks to wrest distribution away from aid groups led by the United Nations. The Israeli military on Tuesday fired shots in the area outside a GHF distribution site, as Palestinians waiting for aid briefly rushed inside the facility due to long delays conducting security checks on recipients. Israeli gunfire killed three and wounded at least 47 others. The UN and other major humanitarian organisations have rejectly the new system, saying it won't be able to meet the needs of Gaza's 2.1 million people and allows Israel to use food control as a weapon to control the population.
