DUBAI: On any given morning in the village of Birzeit, just 10 kilometers north of the West Bank city of Ramallah, the sound of juggling balls hitting the floor mixes with laughter, music, and the occasional gasp.
Inside a modest rehearsal space, young performers rehearse feats of balance and acrobatics at the Palestinian Circus, which has become a small outlet for resistance and joy among young people across the occupied West Bank.
However, the circus is under more pressure than ever. Mohamad Rabah, its executive director, told Arab News that Israeli raids had seen one of their colleagues detained and the troupe’s activities become more difficult to sustain.
“The military forces were in Birzeit one month ago. They were here in front of our building. But we are not a special case,” Rabah said.
“We are the same as any Palestinian suffering from this occupation, and we try to find ways to resist, to stay resilient and to find creative ways to work.”
