Gaza graffiti artists bedeck houses destroyed by Israel in war

Graffiti artists in Gaza have painted murals on the remains of houses destroyed in an Israeli missile strike during cross-border fighting in May.

On one wall the artists depicted a woman holding her son. On another a boy is painted with tears in his eyes. A third shows a girl, seen through a mirror, combing her hair.

A painting drawn by artists is seen at a house destroyed by Israel in Deir Al Balah. Reuters

Piles of rubble still encircle the houses in the town of Deir Al Balah. Parts of exploded Israeli missiles were placed on tables for display.

"Out of suffering, pain, and siege, we derive hope, art, and victory," said artist Hussein Abu Sadeq. "We drew on the rubble so we can get the message through using a brush and colour."

Gaza, home to 2.3 million people and ruled by Hamas group, is blockaded by Israel and Egypt.

Palestinian children walk near a graffiti, as artists draw graffiti on houses destroyed by Israel in Deir Al Balah. Reuters 

In May, Israel launched a campaign against commanders of the Islamic Jihad group who it said had planned attacks in Israel.

Israel killed six senior Islamic Jihad commanders and said it destroyed a number of military installations. Fifteen Palestinian civilians, including women and children, were also killed, according to Palestinian health officials.

"We collected those remains (of missiles) after the bombardment," said Mohammad Thuraya, an organiser of an exhibition of the art work. "One missile destroyed a neighbourhood and destroyed the lives of ten families who used to live here."

Reuters