Artist refuses to open Israeli pavilion at Venice Biennale until ceasefire

A woman takes a photo as an Italian soldier patrols the Israeli national pavilion at the Biennale contemporary art fair in Venice (Colleen Barry/AP)

The artist and curators representing Israel at this year’s Venice Biennale announced on Tuesday they will not open the Israeli pavilion exhibition until there is a ceasefire in Gaza and an agreement to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Their decision was posted on a sign in the window of the Israeli national pavilion on the first day of media previews, just days before the Biennale contemporary art fair opens on Saturday.