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20 Organizations Participate in Gaza Book Fair | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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People look through the books on display at a book fair in Gaza City, Gaza Strip. (Facebook)


Gaza – The Ministry of Culture in the Gaza Strip launched a book fair on Sunday, after a four-year absence caused by the Israeli blockade.

The fair, themed “Jerusalem” (Al-Quds), was organized in the heart of Gaza and featured thousands of publications.

Al-Quds Book Fair saw the participation of around 20 cultural institutions from among the biggest publishing houses and libraries in the Strip.

Shaaban Hasouna, director of a non-governmental arts institution taking part in the fair, said: “Today, we stand here in Al-Quds Book Fair held in Gaza after a four-year absence caused by the 11-year Israeli siege and crossings’ closure.”

Talking to Anadolu Agency, he stated: “Through the policy imposed over the Gaza Strip, Israel has prevented foreign publication houses from participating in such exhibitions, which hampered the organization of such events in the Strip.”

Hasouna said that this book fair is a cultural celebration that is aimed at enhancing reading in the Palestinian community and eliminating the obstacles faced by fans of reading.

For this year’s edition, the Ministry of Culture adopted the slogan “Towards a patriotic Palestinian unified cultural speech”.

Israel has been imposing a land and air blockade over Gaza since the Hamas movement won the parliamentary elections in 2006.