The Islamic organization Hamas invaded Israel from Gaza a week ago. A week later, the flared conflict has left more than two thousand dead among Israelis and Palestinians. Brussels culture makers are weighing up: should they allow their Palestinian event to go ahead or not?
“We are truly sorry, but we cannot allow the event to go ahead at this time,” said the spokesperson for the House of Humanity, which would normally open the doors of Sainklet on Saturday for the one-day Palettes of Palestine festival. “Right now, everything has been overshadowed by the heinous crimes on both sides.”
Palettes of Palestine serves as a kind of showcase of Palestinian culture. Preparations for the benefit festival already started earlier. As part of the festival, the organizers brought the works of art by Palestinian children to Brussels via the HOPE Foundation. In addition, several other activities are planned, such as an embroidery workshop and live music.
The festival, with the help of the humanists, found another location. Palettes of Palestine now takes place at the socio-cultural association Globe Aroma in the city center.
“We are definitely not in a party mood right now,” one of the organizers emphasizes. That is why the DJs have been cancelled, but other activities will continue. “We owe it to the Gazan artists we invited and to the children whose artwork hangs here.”
Young people from Brussels and Gaza
Something similar can be heard at the Festival des Libertés, which has booked the performance ‘Les Monologues de Gaza’ since the summer. In the performance, which can be seen on Friday evening in the Théâtre National, young people from Brussels enter into conversations with young people from Gaza. Director Ali Abu Yasin’s performance premiered in 2010 and has since been shown in various countries around the world.
The festival will not cancel the performance on Friday evening, but will frame it and link it to current events.
This article is originally published on bruzz.be
