Palestinian artist Fathi Ghaben dies in Gaza invasion

Fathi Ghaben, a well-known Palestinian artist, passed away on February 25, 2024, in Gaza due to chronic lung and chest illnesses exacerbated by inadequate medical care. The Palestinian Ministry of Culture reported that his family’s plea to Israeli officials for treatment outside Gaza was rejected. Ghaben, who was a self-taught painter active in the 1970s and 1980s, taught at Al Naser Islamic School, co-founded the Association of Artists of Gaza, and established the Fathi Ghaben Center of Arts. He was honored with several accolades, including the Order of Culture, Science and Arts in 2015. Born in 1947, he was displaced during the Nakba and detained by Israeli forces, becoming one of over 30,000 Palestinians who lost their lives in the invasion.