Music troupe perform near Gaza borders with Israel

Members of a music troupe played music and sang songs close to the borders between the northern tip of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and Israel after being banned from traveling to Jerusalem.

In front of empty chairs lined in an open-area close to the borders with Israel, members of Dawaween music troupe stood on a stage, played music and sang songs to express their rejection to the ban.

A piece of white paper written on it "the audience of Jerusalem" was put on every single chair. The troupe played national and revolutionary Palestinian and Arab music and sang songs for around two hours.

The members were scheduled to enter Jerusalem and present a music show on Saturday on the stage of al-Hakawati Theater in east Jerusalem.

However, Israel forbade them to cross the borders from the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight Israeli blockade since 2007 to Jerusalem.

In east Jerusalem, Palestinians are having the 17th music festival that is held every year in the West Bank.

"Israel's decision to ban the troupe targeted not only the Palestinian arts and music, but also all the Palestinian people, to prevent any kind of cultural or social communication between Gaza and the West Bank," said Aadel Abdul Rahman, director of the troupe.

He said therefore they decided to go to a place close to the borders and perform there to condemn the Israeli measures against the Palestinians and their free movement.

"We want to send a message to the world that the Palestinian people are suffering and can't even communicate in terms of culture and arts," he said, adding "we hope that our message will make the world put pressure on Israel to end these measures."

The troupe includes 50 musicians, dancers and singers, which performs modern music and songs that go in harmony with Palestinian national heritage and rituals.

Meanwhile, Iman Hamouri, director of the festival in Jerusalem, condemned the Israeli decision which "aims at suffocating the Palestinians."

She added that Israel has banned the arrival of several other music troupes from the Arab world, including Iskenderellah from Egypt.

Israel has been imposing a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip after Hamas movement had violently seized control of the coastal enclave in 2007. Endit