Media executives discuss content, entertainment and news at FII Priority Summit

LONDON: When exploring East London, a vibrant display of creativity and dissent is evident.

Amid cafes spinning vinyl records and speakeasies nestled in butcher shops, the streets have become a canvas for a range of artworks expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The latest addition is the “Heroes of Palestine” project, a collection of nine graffiti murals celebrating the resilience of frontline workers in Gaza.

First launched by art platform Creative Debuts in January, each mural highlighted a civilian journalist and their Instagram account. These include Motaz Azaiza, Wael Dahdouh, Plestia Al-Aqad, Bisan Owda, Hind Khoudary and Doaa Al-Baz.

Citizen journalists, who risk their lives to document Israel’s bombings and military invasion of Gaza, have played a crucial role in humanizing Palestinians.

Through platforms like Instagram, they have formed deep emotional connections with a global audience, drawing attention to the death and destruction wrought by war.

“The murals are a reminder of the human beings on the ground and the fact that there is a huge, huge loss of life,” Calum Hall, founder of Creative Debuts, told Arab News.

“There are a terrible number of casualties, and 90 percent of the population has been displaced. There is obviously the current situation in Rafah, which is devastating,” he added.

The community project has attracted the attention of both the local community and a global audience, with Hall noting that “when it comes to social media, the murals are by far the most engaged works we’ve ever done “.

Following the campaign’s initial success, Creative Debuts expanded its project in February to include a tribute to Gaza’s doctors.

Hall says the murals, all of which were viewed by their subjects in Gaza via social media, also serve to boost morale.

“Healthcare professionals in particular are constantly faced with extremely distressing circumstances. So if we can provide even one percent of hope, encouragement and love, it will have a ripple effect on the people around them.

“We want people to know they are seen, to know they are heard, and to know they are loved.”

During this time, Hall advocated for the use of street art as a form of activism, as a channel for dialogue, and as a tool to connect communities.

“Street art is for people. It’s the most accessible form of art, so it should definitely depict what’s happening in society.

“Everyone loves it, taking pictures, being interested in it. But it’s a form of rebellion, it’s a form of activism in itself and it’s the perfect way for us to get the word out about this campaign.”

Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, now in its sixth month, has killed nearly 30,000 people, the majority of them women and children.

As of February 15, a YouGov poll indicates that 66 percent of Britons want Israel’s war to end. However, the British government has not called for an immediate ceasefire nor has it halted the transfer of weapons to Israel, fearing that they could be used to commit “war crimes” against the Palestinians.

London has been the scene of some of Europe’s largest pro-Palestinian protests since October, with regular Saturday marches attracting hundreds of thousands of people.

“What seems really obvious is that there is a disconnect between the seriousness of the problem, the way politicians are treating it and what the public thinks,” Hall said.

“I think this creates an even greater divide between the public and the leaders of this country,” he added.

The founder concluded: “The murals are an important legacy for all of us, to rally us to the people of Gaza but also to let our politicians know that we are not happy about them.

“We are not happy to see this destruction and devastation in real time on our social media; It’s inevitable. History will judge us all.

Creative Debuts launched a GoFundMe continue the creation and documentation of the “Heroes of Palestine” murals, with funds allocated directly to the artists, materials and photographer.