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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/Arts&Culture/freedom-theatre-vandalized-by--israel--nominated-for-nobel-p">english.almayadeen.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Freedom Theatre vandalized by 'Israel' nominated for Nobel Peace Prize</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen English</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">February 15, 2024<br></div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>The
theater itself, located in the Jenin refugee camp, which houses almost
24,000 Palestinians, has been a target of sabotage several times
throughout the occupation's ongoing genocide in Gaza.</p><img src="cid:ii_lsngk82c0" alt="156c5636-cbfc-480c-8698-058a442103cf.jpg" width="444" height="296"><br><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
A Palestinian man walks past graffiti that depicts late
notable Palestinians, at the entrance of the Freedom Theatre, April 12,
2022. (<em>AP</em>)
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<p>The <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/un--violence-seen-in-the-west-bank-is--extremely-alarming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">occupied West Bank</a>'s Freedom Theatre has just been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize after being vandalized by Israeli occupation forces.</p>
<p>The theater itself, located in the Jenin refugee camp, which houses
almost 24,000 Palestinians, has been a target of sabotage several times
throughout the occupation's ongoing genocide in Gaza. What once radiated
joy and light has now been riddled with holes by occupation bullets and
vandalized with graffiti symbols of the Star of David. </p>
<p>In December, Israeli soldiers raided the theater, ransacked its offices, and left behind the debris of a shot-down wall. </p>
<p>On Tuesday, the theatre's official X account released a statement
regarding the nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, and expressed their
gratitude for the nomination. </p>
<h2>'Dreaming of a new generation'</h2>
<p>The Freedom Theatre was founded by Juliano Mer Khamis, who was killed
in 2011, and Palestinian prisoner Zakaria Zubeidi, who is currently
incarcerated in Israeli prisons. The statement gave the co-founders a
tribute, saying, "Together, they dreamed of a new generation of artists
who, from the heart of Jenin Camp, would raise their voices against
discrimination, occupation, and oppression."</p>
<p>The theater's producer, Mustafa Sheta, was also detained by Israeli forces in a <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-forces-raid-west-bank--carry-out-arrests-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mass arrest campaign</a>. Most detainees were later released, but Sheta was not. </p>
<p>“Today marks two months since our producer, Mustafa Sheta, was taken
by the Israeli Army and imprisoned without trial or charge. Mustafa is
one of many in our team who have <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iof-detain-230-palestinians-in-west-bank-in-one-week" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sacrificed their liberation</a> for the goal of freedom of expression for all.” </p>
<h2>"Israel" detains 7,000 Palestinians in 130 days</h2>
<p>In addition to Mustafa Sheta,<a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/in-130-days---israel--detained-7-000--palestinians-in-west-b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> over 7,000 Palestinians</a>
have been detained in the West Bank since the commencement of the
extensive Israeli aggression against Palestinians 130 days ago.</p>
<p>The shocking revelation was made in a joint statement by the
Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission, the Palestinian Prisoners
Society (PPS), and the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights
Association.</p>
<p>The joint statement added that approximately 220 women are among the
total number of detainees, in addition to more than 440 children.</p>
<p>Moreover, the Israeli occupation arrested 53 journalists, with 36
still in detention, and placed 21 others under administrative detention,
the statement added.</p>
<p>In further detail, the administrative detention orders exceeded
3,490, encompassing cases involving children and women, with orders
ranging from new to renewed, the statement stressed. </p>
<p>The statement further highlighted that the continuous detention efforts coincide with <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/several-wounded-in-west-bank-confrontations-with-israeli-for" target="_blank" rel="noopener">escalating offenses and violations</a>.
These include brutal beatings and threats against detainees and their
families, as well as widespread sabotage and destruction of Palestinian
homes.</p>
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