AHI Statement Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza and Announcement of Middle East and Asia Festival

Arts & Homelessness International (AHI) is the global network for arts, creativity and homelessness. Our 500 member projects include NGOs and projects in Palestine and Israel; our network and 50% of our staff and board, are or have been homeless, and we have members of every major world religion – including Muslims, Jews and Christians – who collaborate closely in our community.  

We are deeply saddened that thousands of people have been killed in Gaza, homes destroyed and 1.5 million people displaced. We grieve for the loss of those killed and kidnapped in the attack on 7 October by Hamas. We are forever horrified beyond words for the deep pain that people can inflict on others. 

AHI demands the UK government live up to its obligations under international law and call for an immediate cease-fire and the end to killing of innocent civilians and demands an end to the indiscriminate bombardment of homes, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure in Gaza.  

The apathy and the weakness of politicians on all sides of the political spectrum not only in the UK but across the world is condoning acts of atrocity, war crimes and genocide. This must stop – humanitarian aid and food must be allowed through and those who are bereaved must be given time, space and compassion to retrieve the bodies of their relatives and give them a dignified burial.  

Following the attack on 7 October, Palestinians in Gaza are facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe as a result of Israel’s military assault. We believe that further loss of innocent life will not help alleviate the suffering of their families and will only aid in tearing communities apart; this is in stark contrast to the aims of AHI’s work. The AHI team includes people who have seen war and suffering first hand and they will never advocate for war. 

We are a charity working in the arts and our champions are artists, activists and change makers who value equity, justice and openness. We are committed to peace, and to the pursuit of human rights and a celebration of religious pluralism. 

If there is one thing we know it’s how our language – the language of creativity and hope – is shared between people of all religions and beliefs. It unites us in the common language of peace, kindness and respect.  

People ask what the arts can do in a time of such deep crisis but sometimes, it’s even more important to offer an avenue to make sense of senseless brutality; to help grieve; to learn about, understand and respect nuance in personal histories and identities; to join together in solidarity; to remind us of beauty and the good parts of humanity that need to be remembered. 

Middle East and Asian Festival of Arts and Homelessness 29th November 

It is for this reason that we are going ahead with our next online Middle East and Asian Festival of Arts and Homelessness on 29th November (10-1130am click here to sign up for free tickets).  

This event is part of a series of ‘mini festivals’ of talent from artists who are or have been homeless around the global majority and follows festivals this year in Latin America and Africa. The event will bring together artists to express themselves creatively in song, poetry, visual art, film and spoken word.  

For this event we will also have time for reflection and a grief counsellor on hand to support those who need it.  

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