RAMALLAH: The Ramallah Contemporary Arts Festival, one of the largest events of its kind in the occupied West Bank, kicked off on Monday, opening its doors for the first time since the Gaza war shut down most cultural activities in the area.
Khaled Aliyan, the festival's director, said the event returned "after a two-year forced hiatus caused by the genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.".
Aliyan added that the festival, which was previously limited exclusively to contemporary dance, has now expanded to welcome Palestinian creators from all art forms.
Art, theater, and film festivals previously held in Ramallah and other parts of the West Bank have been suspended due to the escalation of violence, Israeli military raids, and attacks by Israeli settlers since October 2023.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.
„Culture and art have a historically important and specific role in our struggle… as they reflect our identity and strengthen our role as Palestinian society,” Aliyan added.
The festival kicked off on Monday at the Ramallah Palace of Culture. Al-Sirah Al-Hilaliyyah with the presentation of the musical piece.
The play, based on the Arabic poem of the same name, tells the story of the Banu Hilal tribe, the subject of one of the most famous Arab folk epics.
The play was performed by the Palestinian acting company Khashabi Theater, based in Haifa (northern Israel), which was performing in the Palestinian territories for the first time after its European tour.
Ola Hanna came to the opening performance with her family from the Arab city of Ramleh in northern Israel.
He said he hopes that Palestinian cultural life can return to its pre-Gaza war state.
„"There is no life for me without music and joy," he said.
The festival runs until July 16 and features 48 artists and art groups, including dance, theater, circus performances and video art.
The festival also hosts the Palestinian Arts Forum, which brings together 22 artists, cultural program organizers and art institutions from 15 countries.
Art critic Youssef Al-Shayeb told AFP that organizing such a large-scale festival featuring a wide range of contemporary performing arts - despite the difficult living conditions in the Palestinian territories - is a significant achievement in itself.
„Simply continuing life is itself a form of resistance,” he added, referring to settler violence, the increase in checkpoints and Israeli military operations in the West Bank.
