KARACHI: In a powerful display of solidarity, over 50 young artists and students gathered at the Arts Council of Pakistan, showcasing their artwork under the compelling theme: “Stop killing children in Gaza.”
The exhibition, organized by the Palestine Foundation Pakistan (PFP) in collaboration with the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP), sought to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in Gaza and to urge the international community to take immediate action to stop the “genocide” of Palestinians.
Dr. Sabir Abu Mariam, the PFP general secretary, emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting that Israeli forces have tragically claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians, including more than 8,000 children, since October 7. The young artists’ poignant creations, spanning various art forms, served as a powerful expression of their thoughts and emotions regarding the devastating impact of the conflict.
Israeli forces have killed more than 20,000of Palestinians, including more than 10,000 children, since the start of the war on Oct. 7 when it was targeted by Hamas in an attack which the group said was launched in response to the deteriorating condition of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
Millions of people across the world have protested against Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, despite calls for an immediate cease-fire from the United Nations and the rest of the international community.
One of the participants, Wajid Ali, an assistant professor from Gujrat, underscored the need for the younger generation to comprehend the gravity of the situation, stating that the exhibition served as an awareness campaign to shed light on the profound tragedy unfolding in Gaza.
Umaima Masood, a student at the council’s School of Arts, shared her emotional connection to the cause, revealing that she was moved to tears while creating an abstract painting depicting a Palestinian girl in distress. Her artwork symbolized the plea for an end to the suffering and a call to action to halt the violence in Gaza.
While the UN Security Council recently passed a resolution to increase aid to the Gaza Strip, many global leaders and organizations have deemed it insufficient, advocating for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire to alleviate the dire circumstances faced by the people of Gaza and bring an end to their harrowing ordeal.
