AL-MONITOR
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| A Palestinian artist paints a mural in Gaza City in support of Palestinian prisoners on a hunger strike in Israeli jails |
GAZA --- About six months ago, Palestinian singer
Yousef Hajjaj, 38, was forced to work as a taxi driver for lack of singing opportunities. In an interview with Al-Monitor in his taxi cab, he expressed his disappointment at what is happening to him and to
Palestinian artists in the Gaza Strip in general. He was dismayed at the fact that most artists were looking for alternative work opportunities while both the Gaza government and the
Palestinian artists union do nothing. Since 2007, Hamas has imposed restrictions on organizing concerts and festivals for singing or dancing, as was happening during the PA’s reign. Hamas claims that such activities may spread immorality or cause mixing between the sexes in the conservative Palestinian society. [
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