Banksy Gaza piece seized by police after alleged $175 purchase ‘fraud’
Mysterious street artist Banksy’s Gaza artwork has been seized by police after it was allegedly purchased from the original owner in a $175 ‘fraud’ – a fee vastly lower to what it would be if sold at auction.
The piece, featuring Greek goddess Niobe crying over her dead children, was erected on a bomb shelled building, following 2014’s Israel conflict which caused the death of an estimated 2,100 Gazans and 66 Israeli soldiers.
Banksy drew the piece on Rabie Darduna’s door - which was the only piece of his house left standing - to generate international media attention for the conflict, which saw around 18,000 homes levelled.
The BBC reports that Durduna issued a complaint to police after the sale in what he asserts was a scam: "One man told me: 'We're from the group that did it.' They made me sign a paper.
"It said I agreed on 700 shekels ($175; £120). They pressured me and I accepted because I need the money.
“Really we feel depressed and very upset, this door is rightfully ours. They cheated us. It's a matter of fraud. And we're asking for the door to be returned.”
The piece was seized from a Mr Khaled who was responsible for enacting the deal, he told Reuters: “The policemen took the door away and they told me it would be held in accordance with a court order because there was a lawsuit against me.
"I am the true owner of the door now, and I will seek to establish this in court."
Upon the return of the doorway, Mr Durduna could resell the piece, with previous Banksy artwork shifting for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Banksy pieces are often erected in public areas, and have sparked ownership disputes in the past.
Last August, Banksy's ‘Mobile Lovers’, a painting showing two lovers staring intently into their mobiles instead of each others' eyes, was seized by police.
Bristol Council however donated the proceeds to the local youth centre where the piece was originally found.