2024 was a year of anti-Palestinian censorship and active art rebellion

For artists, it is difficult to reflect on the past year without thinking about Israel’s genocide in Gaza that has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians per the official count or more than 220,000 per realistic estimates.

While art is something to be enjoyed, as it enriches every aspect of our lives, identities, and culture, it is also central to struggle. Art is powerful, it allows us to share emotions and stories with people around the world even if we don’t share a common language. Israel knows this, and that’s why it targets all those with a talent and passion to transmit messages about Gaza’s horrific reality.

Indeed, Israel seems to make it a tactic in its broader strategy of ethnic cleansing to wipe out Palestinians who inspire not just their own people, but everyone waging a fight against injustice.

Painters, illustrators, poets, photographers, writers, designers … so many talented Palestinians have already been killed. It is incumbent on us to ensure that they are not forgotten. They are not numbers, and their work should be remembered, always.

We must tell people about Heba Zagout, the 39-year-old painter, poet and novelist, killed along with two of her children in an Israeli air strike. Her rich paintings of Palestinian women and the holy sites of Jerusalem were her way of speaking to the “outside world”.

We must say the name of renowned painter and arts educator, Fathi Ghaben, whose beautiful works that captured Palestinian resistance should be seen by all.

We have to teach the words of Refaat Alareer, one of Gaza’s most brilliant writers and teachers who lectured at the Islamic University of Gaza.

We have to talk about the beauty in the art of Mahasen al-Khatib, who was killed by an Israeli air strike on Jabalia refugee camp. In her last illustration, she honoured 19-year-old Shaban al-Dalou, who burned to death in the Israeli attack on the Al-Aqsa Hospital compound.

We must also remind the world of writer Yousef Dawwas, novelist Noor al-din Hajjaj, poet Muhamed Ahmed, designer Walaa al-Faranji, and photographer Majd Arandas.