The Rashad Shawa Cultural Center was a cultural center built in 1985, in Rimal, Gaza, State of Palestine. [1] The place was named after its founder Rashad al-Shawa, the city's Palestinian mayor who served in office for 11 years. The building was completed 1988, [2] formally opened in 1992, and destroyed by Israel in 2023. [3]
The building was two-story tall, with triangular roof. The center had a meeting place, where people meet for celebrations, the Tamari Sabbagh Library, and a stage for films and performances. [2]
It was designed by Syrian architect Sa’ad Mohaffel. Mohaffel was influenced by tropical architecture and the proximity to the Mediterranean sea, with the design aligned on a west-east access to naturally ventilate the building, a shaded southern terrace for sun protection, and an open-grid suspended ceiling for air circulation. He chose concrete as the primary construction material both for aesthetics and because it was the most affordable material available in Gaza. Mohaffel believed that despite the availability of concrete, builders in Gaza had not had opportunity to learn specialized techniques and their participation in the project would advance craftmanship in the community. [4]
Artist Laila Shawa designed the stained glass panels in the large foyer and library. [3]
In September 2009, the cultural center had a three-day festival, that featured training workshops. The workshops were designed for filmmakers to learn from the films exhibited. [5]
The stage hosted performances from Mohammed Assad, Reem Talhami, and other iconic Palestinian musicians. International leaders, including Nelson Mandela, Jacques Chirac, and Bill Clinton, gave speeches there. [3]
During a brief truce in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war it was found that Rashad Shawa Cultural Center had been reduced to rubble. Gaza City Municipality told reporters that Israeli forces intentionally targeted landmarks for destruction. [6]
Gaza, also called Gaza City, is a city in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. As of 2022, it was the largest city in the State of Palestine, with 590,481 inhabitants in 2017. The city is spread across an area of 45 square kilometres (17 sq mi). Gaza is one of the principal coastal cities in the country, home to Palestine's only port. Located some 76.6 kilometres (47.6 mi) southwest of the country's proclaimed capital East Jerusalem, the city is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Prior to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, it was the most populous city in the State of Palestine, when massive displacement happened during the war.
Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in the southern Levant region of West Asia recognized by 146 out of 193 UN member states. It encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, collectively known as the occupied Palestinian territories, within the broader geographic and historical Palestine region. Palestine shares most of its borders with Israel, and it borders Jordan to the east and Egypt to the southwest. It has a total land area of 6,020 square kilometres (2,320 sq mi) while its population exceeds five million people. Its proclaimed capital is Jerusalem, while Ramallah serves as its administrative center. Gaza City was its largest city prior to evacuations in 2023.
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Rashad al-Shawwa was the Palestinian mayor of Gaza for eleven years from 1971 to 1982. Before becoming mayor he was an outgoing local activist in the city. He was known by Israelis and Palestinians as the pro-Jordanian "father figure" of the Gaza Strip. He is the father of artist Laila Shawwa.
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Laila Shawa, was a Palestinian visual artist whose work has been described as a personal reflection concerning the politics of her country, particularly highlighting perceived injustices and persecution. She was one of the most prominent and prolific artists of the Arabic revolutionary contemporary art scene.
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Raghib al-Alami was the mayor of Gaza City between 1965 and 1970. He was appointed by the Egyptian government while the Gaza Strip was under Egyptian control. He served office when Israel occupied Gaza during the 1967 Six-Day War with Egypt.
Rawya Rashad Said al-Shawa was a Palestinian journalist and politician. She was one of the first group of women elected to the Legislative Council in 1996.
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Attacks on protected zones and civilians in Gaza during the Israel–Hamas war have led to the killing of over 30,000 Palestinians and the displacement of over 2 million people, as well as the collapse of the education system and the destruction of most homes and hospitals in Gaza. Israel has faced accusations of war crimes from South Africa, the UN Human Rights Council, and Amnesty International, among others, due to the number of civilian casualties and the percentage of civilian infrastructure destroyed, including Palestinian refugee camps, schools, mosques, churches, and more. Analysis of satellite data shows that 80% of buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or ruined. As of January 2024, researchers from Oregon State University and the City University of New York estimated that 50 to 62 percent of all buildings in the Gaza Strip were damaged or destroyed.