A graffito of a raised fist painted in the colours of the Palestinian flag adorns a wall in the 1,000-year-old neighbourhood of Al-Khalifa in Cairo.
The hand sits on a pool of water against a bold red background. The words "Gaza" and "Palestine" are painted across it in Arabic.
The work is one of four murals artist Mohamed Moataz has painted around Al-Khalifa neighbourhood to show solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza War. Al-Khalifa neighbourhood, known for its religious, historical and unique architecture, is located within the Historic Cairo area, which was included in the Unesco World Heritage List in 1979.
“I started drawing to express my feelings towards the Palestinians,” Moataz tells The National.
“The urge started when I watched videos of children in Gaza. I felt I should support them even if it's only with my drawings.”
Moataz started creating graffiti art five years ago. His earlier works were mostly murals of Egyptian celebrities, such as football star Mohamed Salah and singer Umm Kulthum. However, his subject matter changed when he started following the news of the victims of war in Gaza, particularly the devastation and hardships of children.
“These children have dreams and goals that they want to achieve and should have this right,” he says.
“I hope all the dreams of Gaza’s children come true, even the small ones.”
In another work, Moataz has drawn Al Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Dome of the Rock, the gold-domed Islamic shrine in Jerusalem. The Palestinian flag stands erect behind the mosque and the words "Save Gaza" and "Free Palestine" are written across the work.
On the side of another building, Moataz outlines the recognisable shape of Palestine on the map, against a red and lime green background. Inside its borders an eye stares out, framed by the patterns of the keffiyeh, another cultural identifier of Palestine.
Moataz’s fourth mural is simple, but bold. The Palestinian flag is painted on the outer corner of a building, more than two metres in height.
“When you finish a drawing, it is the same as providing aid to them. Any support anyone can give is meaningful,” he says.
In a video Moataz posted on his social media, tourists and passersby are seen capturing his work on their phones.
"He's decorating our neighbourhood, and it looks very nice," says Hossam, a resident. "He's drawing and representing what the Palestinians feel."
And this support, Moataz says, encourages him to continue drawing and to spread his message for Palestine.
“Thank God, my drawings were widely seen and that was the aim, I wanted to send a message to as many people as I could,” he says.
“I will continue drawing until Palestine is free. I will continue drawing the Palestinian flag all over the streets of Egypt.”
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neo%20Mobility%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20February%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abhishek%20Shah%20and%20Anish%20Garg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Delta%20Corp%2C%20Pyse%20Sustainability%20Fund%2C%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
