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Music under siege in Gaza

Music students are also unable to leave the Strip to partake in recitals in the West Bank or abroad.

November 9, 2016 at 10:02 am

The Israeli imposed siege on Gaza has had many victims; even music isn’t safe from its grip.

Gaza’s first music school, which opened its doors in the summer of 2008, has had to endure limitations to the number of instruments it has and so limit its teaching abilities as a result.

When it first opened, the school offered Gazans a means to relieve their stress through music, however this was short lived as the Israeli war on the enclave damaged the building and cost it its most important tools.

“All the musical instruments, which were collected and brought to the Gaza Strip with much hardship, were destroyed during the horrific Israeli war,” Khamis Abu Shaaban, the school’s administrator, said.

The school, which was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation (Sida), found a new home and resumed its activities.

In 2012, it was linked to Birzeit University’s Edward Said National Conservatory of Music.

“Tens of new students join the school every year,” Abu Shaaban said. “Today, we have tens of new musical instruments which were brought to the Gaza Strip for the first time.”

School fees have increased over time, and currently stand at $250, “the problem is that we do not have enough instruments for the students.”

Music students are also unable to leave the Strip to partake in recitals in the West Bank or abroad and allow foreign audiences to enjoy their talents.

In addition to this, many in Gaza are unable to attend the school because the siege has meant they are unable to cover the cost of the fees. “We turn down applications of a lot of people due to their inability to pay the fees.”