TEHRAN – A photo exhibition by Palestinian photographer Mahmoud Abu Hamda opened on Tuesday at Bayt Al-Jamal Lil Funun Art Center in Baghdad.
The exhibition, titled “Malam Yoshahid” (“The Unseen”), opened in the presence of Iraqi artists, enthusiasts and stakeholders, including such luminaries as Mohanad Hussien, Ahmed Al-Fuqaiki, and Mohammed Al-Ami.
According to the Public Relations Office of the Art Department of the Organization for the Propagation of Islamic Ideology in Iran, the exhibition will display works by artists created over the past two years and during the Gaza Genocide, a period of great hardship and suffering for Gaza residents who have endured a brutal Israeli invasion.
Featuring 57 photographs, the exhibition highlights the suffering of innocent children exposed to the horrors of war, including injuries, displacement, and emotional trauma.
After directly purchasing the publishing rights to Abu Hamda’s work, Iran Photographers House plans to display and sell the work at this exhibition and donate the proceeds to help the people of Gaza.
This exhibition is one of the few specialized exhibitions by Gaza-based photographers that provides vivid and authentic images of central Gaza during the Al-Aqsa storm. Its unique and documentary nature makes it a rarity worldwide.
Abu Hamda’s photographs are an artistic combination of technology, light and emotion that directly depict the human impact of the Gaza crisis. About his work, he says: “My photographic work is more than just capturing images; it is a journey to discover the secrets of the soul hidden in every corner, and an effort to embrace the beauty that exists in this land.”
Through powerful photography, Abu Hamda highlights the human cost of the conflict and the resilience of the Palestinian people. This exhibit is a testament to the enduring spirit of resistance and hope in the face of adversity.
This exhibition provides the people of Baghdad with an opportunity to experience the struggles and aspirations of our Palestinian brothers and sisters.
Two years have passed since Israel began its genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, in response to attacks by Palestinian fighters. At least 67,000 Palestinians have been killed during this time, and thousands remain trapped under rubble. More than 20,000 children were among the dead, and more than 169,000 were injured, many with life-changing injuries.
The medical system is under strain, with more than 125 facilities, including 34 hospitals, damaged. Health workers have been killed or detained. As of July 2023, there were 28 senior doctors detained in Israel, some of whom died from torture.
Israeli attacks have targeted hospitals and aid workers, violating international law protecting medical facilities. Since October 2023, more than 790 attacks against healthcare infrastructure have been recorded.
The blockade and military restrictions also caused severe hunger, with at least 459 people dying of starvation, including 154 children. The United Nations officially recognized famine in Gaza in August 2023, the first time in the Middle East in recent history, and the situation is expected to worsen.
Malnutrition among children is skyrocketing, with thousands suffering from severe acute malnutrition and many infants being born prematurely or with low birth weight. The ongoing violence and blockade have become a humanitarian catastrophe for Gaza’s residents.
SAB/