Several artists condemned Hamas' supervision and censorship over Palestinian arts and culture yesterday, saying such oversight is a violation of the freedom of expression and stifles creativity. Gaza's Ministry of Culture must review the works of art before authorizing their exhibition, several artists said, adding that the criteria for presentation is strict and hard to meet. Hamas authorities refused to screen Masho Matook, a Palestinian film, despite its acceptance into the Cannes Film Festival. The film portrays relationships – often forged through football – between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian children during the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip. Hamas refused to screen the film because of a scene in which a number of the Israeli soldiers flirt with an unveiled Palestinian woman, the artists said. It is unfair to prevent a film screening because of a four-second scene involving an unveiled woman, said Ahmed abou-Naser, one of the film's producers. The scene has no value in the context of the film, said Mustafa al-Sawaf, an official in Gaza's Culture Ministry, adding that the ministry's interference in the film is limited. Despite the spread of the supervision in Arab societies, many Palestinians consider Hamas' supervision and censorship exaggerated.
