Iconic Palestinian artist Fathi Ghaben — who documented the Palestinian resistance with bold, colourful strokes — passed away at the age of 77 in Gaza on January 25 amid a severe shortage of medicines and oxygen after Israeli authorities denied him permission to leave the besieged enclave for medical treatment he urgently required. Reportedly suffering from chest and lung problems, Ghaben's death occurred in the midst of Tel Aviv’s brutal war on Gaza, rendering him yet another victim of Israel's genocidal military campaign against Palestinians. But amid the challenging conditions of the occupation and with scarce resources, Ghaben created artworks that will continue to inspire resistance and adorn walls across the occupied Palestinian territories. "My paintings are not filled with smiles; they are not loud, flashy or without a deep thought. I draw the national Palestinian issues and the reality of the Palestinian struggle," the artist once said. He lived his life in a tent and died in a tent, the Palestinian Minister of Culture Atef Abu Saif said in a poignant tribute to the artist. Yet, his artistic presence transcended tents and even borders. Today, Fathi Ghaben's words resonate as a representative voice for all Palestinian artists who have endured the heavy tolls of occupation and used their art as an active tool of resistance. Read more: https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/born-in-tent-died-in-tent-in-memory-of-palestinian-artist-fathi-ghaben-17147047