‘Israel’ goes after Palestinian schoolchildren artwork in UK hospital

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Feb 2023 16:30
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After a complaint by "UK lawyers for Israel," a London hospital yields to a request by Israeli patients who allegedly felt "vulnerable" and "victimized" by the Palestinian artwork and takes it down.

Artwork by children from Gaza was removed from a London hospital after complaints. (Social media)

A London hospital yielded to a request demanding the removal of a display of artwork done by Palestinian schoolchildren from Gaza after complaints were lodged by "UK Lawyers for Israel" on behalf of "vulnerable" patients, Alarabinuk reported.

The artwork, designed by Palestinian schoolchildren from Gaza, was taken down at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital following the complaints of a British pro-"Israel" campaign group on behalf of Israeli patients.

Children from two UNWRA schools in Gaza reportedly made a display of adorned plates with images explaining their significance. Schoolchildren from Chelsea & Westminster Community Hospital painted the designs on the plates, which were then placed in the "Crossing Borders - a Festival of Plates" exhibit near the outpatient department entrance. "The olive branch is a symbol of peace and is used to represent the hope for an independent Palestinian state," said the inscription on one of the display plates.

London’s Chelsea & Westminster Hospital removes artwork designed by Palestinian children in Gaza because UK-Lawyers-for-Israel said so pic.twitter.com/LaLcJ90mVC
— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) February 25, 2023

The "UK Lawyers For Israel (UKLFI)", who filed a complaint with the hospital about the exhibition, claimed that the young kids at the two schools involved, Beit Lahia Girls' School and Jabalia Prep Boys' School, were indoctrinated by the Palestinian Resistance ideology incorporated in their curriculum.

UKLFI claimed that some patients felt "vulnerable, outraged, and harassed" as a result of the display in the foyer of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

A hospital representative affirmed that the paintings were removed by saying, "I can confirm that these images have been removed. Thank you for bringing this to our attention ".

If you feel "vulnerable" and "victimised" having to look at a display of artwork by children from Gaza, imagine how those children feel when an Israeli soldier is pointing a gun at them. And get over yourself.https://t.co/A29Ql1Lh3X
— Frank Owen's Legendary Paintbrush 🟨🟥🥀🇵🇸🇾🇪 (@WarmongerHodges) February 24, 2023

Commenting on the shocking story, Anas Altikriti, CEO of The Cordoba Foundation said the whole story from start to finish illustrated an unhealthy state of mind within all parties concerned, stressing that the fact that adults could find a piece of artwork done by children threatening, that an outfit such as the "UKLFI" could issue a complaint, and for the hospital to be forced to remove the artwork, is utterly bizarre.

Following the removal of the artwork of Gaza's children, people turned to Twitter to protest and raise questions: "What's the problem with Gazan children's art? How can the artwork of innocent children pose a danger to anyone?"

Removing art by Palestinian children because some people feel “victimized” by it? This is the grossest, most cynical, self-indulgent weaponization of trauma. Anyone who feels the “vulnerable” because of this art is either unwell or a disgusting human being. If @UKLFI had any 1/ pic.twitter.com/AZCBZKtYtP
— Katie Halper (@kthalps) February 25, 2023

Individuals who slammed the hospital's actions and the "UKLFI" for forcing the removal of the Palestinian artwork tweeted that "this is just insensitive." As people appear to be more concerned with the "vulnerability complaints described feeling on walking past the artwork, where is the insight and empathy for the kids who experience this on a daily basis in Gaza?"