Artists, Curators Protest Israeli Presence at Venice Biennale, Citing Gaza 'Genocide'

Venice, 28 Feb (ONA) --- Nearly 9,000 individuals, comprising artists, curators and museum directors, have endorsed an online petition urging the exclusion of Israel from the upcoming Venice Biennale art fair. They accuse the country of perpetrating "genocide" in Gaza.

Israel has been facing mounting international criticism, including in the art world, over its military offensive in the Palestinian enclave, which was triggered by the 7th October attack when Hamas, a Palestinian Resistance Movement, carried out an unprecedented attack of against the occupying power of Israel.

Nearly 29,800 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed and over 70,000 others injured by Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October 2023 amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

"Any official representation of Israel on the international cultural stage is an endorsement of its policies and the genocide in Gaza," said the online statement by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) collective.

ANGA said the Venice Biennale had previously banned South Africa over its apartheid policy of white minority rule and excluded Russia after its 2022 war in Ukraine.

The Venice Biennale press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Dubbed the "Olympics of the art world," the Biennale is one of the main events in the international arts calendar. This year's edition, "Foreigners Everywhere," is due to host pavilions from 90 countries between 20 April and 24 November 2024.

--- Ends/Khalid