Middle East & Africa



A metal door that depicted a Greek goddess, presumably painted by British street graffiti artist Banksy, was standing on the rubble of a destroyed building damaged in last summer's Israel-Hamas war, east of Jebaliya.

A metal door that depicted a Greek goddess, presumably painted by British street graffiti artist Banksy, was standing on the rubble of a destroyed building damaged in last summer’s Israel-Hamas war, east of Jebaliya. Image by (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

A Gaza man says he has been duped into selling a valuable work by British graffiti artist Banksy for less than £120.

The popular street artist is believed to have visited Gaza in February, leaving behind four murals. One, depicting the Greek goddess Niobe, was drawn on a door, the last remnant of a two-storey house belonging to the Dardouna family in northern Gaza.

A Palestinian school girl walks to their family house passing by an empty frame destroyed doorway is seen standing on the rubble of a destroyed building that was damaged in last summer's Israel-Hamas war, without a door painting, presumably painted by British street graffiti artist Banksy, east of Jebaliya, in the northern Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian school girl walks to their family house passing by an empty frame destroyed doorway is seen standing on the rubble of a destroyed building that was damaged in last summer’s Israel-Hamas war, without a door painting, presumably painted by British street graffiti artist Banksy, east of Jebaliya, in the northern Gaza Strip. Image by (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Unaware of its value, 33-year-old Rabie Dardouna said he was tricked into selling the door to an eager local artist for just 700 shekels. He now wants the door back.

An empty frame doorway is seen standing on the rubble of a destroyed building that was damaged in last summer's Israel-Hamas war, without a door painting, presumably painted by British street graffiti artist Banksy, east of Jebaliya, in the northern Gaza Strip.

An empty frame doorway is seen standing on the rubble of a destroyed building that was damaged in last summer’s Israel-Hamas war, without a door painting, presumably painted by British street graffiti artist Banksy, east of Jebaliya, in the northern Gaza Strip. Image by (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

The artist who bought the door, Belal Khaled, said he did not mean to trick anyone, adding he just wants to protect the painting and has no intention of profiting.

(Press Association)