Israeli Forces Raid Al-Hakawati Theatre on 23 November
Israeli occupation forces stormed the Palestinian National Theatre, Al-Hakawati, in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, 23 November. They shut down a children’s cultural performance after an order from far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The raid disrupted an event organised by the Jerusalem Youth Heritage Forum. Young participants were visibly distressed, with some crying as they were told to leave.
According to a source, police removed spectators and instructed families to go home, halting a performance titled Dreams Under the Olive Tree — a show featuring traditional Palestinian folk songs and Dabke. Seventy children between the ages of five and eighteen had prepared to take part.
Ben-Gvir justified the shutdown, claiming the event was “supported by the Palestinian Authority.” However, local organisers said that the heritage show was publicly announced and held with Israeli-licensed permits. They also declared that it was funded by bodies such as the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union.
Organisers Condemn “Systematic Policy” Targeting Palestinian Culture
Nabil Abdullah of the Palestinian NGO Network described the raid as part of a broader Israeli effort to suppress cultural life in Jerusalem, telling Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that authorities treated the children’s play “as if it were a security threat.” He said the move reflected a wider campaign aimed at weakening Palestinian identity and restricting community spaces, including those legally licensed to operate.
Silwanic reported that intelligence officers accompanied the forces, ordered everyone out during rehearsals, and posted a closure notice on the theatre doors.
Bazaar for Women-Led Businesses Also Banned
The raid was one of two cultural shutdowns that same weekend. Silwanic documented that authorities also blocked a women’s bazaar planned in Ras al-Amoud. It was to feature around 100 small businesses run by local women.
Ben-Gvir issued the ban under the “Law for the Implementation of the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip / Regulation of Activities / 1994,” again citing alleged Palestinian Authority involvement.
At Least Seven Bans on Palestinian Events in 2025
Silwanic recorded multiple bans throughout 2025 — each signed by Ben-Gvir — targeting Palestinian civic, cultural, and professional activities in Jerusalem. These include:
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April: Ban on a meeting at the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions; the secretary was arrested.
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July: Ban on Palestinian Bar Association elections; attendees summoned for questioning.
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August: Ban on Medical Association elections; the head of the supervising committee was arrested.
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October: Ban on the 60th anniversary celebration of Silwan Sports Club; the club president was arrested.
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October: Ban on a Union Charitable Society meeting of cultural and sports clubs; its head and director were arrested.
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November: Ban on a music and Dabke performance at the National Theatre; organisers were issued summonses.
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November: Ban on the Jerusalem women’s bazaar in Ras al-Amoud.
Theatre Faces Long History of Closures
As noted by Literary Hub, Al-Hakawati has repeatedly faced restrictions over the years.
The venue — an independent cultural institution not funded by either the Israeli government or the Palestinian Authority — was shut down in:
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May 2009: Opening event of the Palestinian Literature Festival.
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June 2013: Eight-day closure, blocking a puppet festival, after claims of Palestinian Authority funding.
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2016: Ban on an event titled “Reviving Palestinian Culture” due to the attendance of the Palestinian Authority’s culture minister at the time.
The most recent raid follows a broader pattern of crackdowns on Palestinian cultural sites across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These include police raids on bookstores in early 2025, the destruction of publishing houses the year before, and the closure of the Freedom Theater in Jenin in late 2023.
Cultural Suppression Amid Ongoing Occupation
These actions take place against Israel’s long-standing control over East Jerusalem, occupied since 1967 and formally annexed in 1980.
Reports note that Israeli forces frequently enter Palestinian homes, institutions, and religious sites. Violence and arrests have escalated sharply since October 2023.
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@ajplus Israeli forces stormed a theater in East Jerusalem and shut down a performance by Palestinian children. #Palestine #Gaza #Israel
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