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Artist refuses to open Israeli pavilion at Venice Biennale until cease-fire, hostage release

Venice: The artist and curators representing Israel at this year's Venice Biennale announced Tuesday they wouldn't open the Israeli pavilion exhibition until there is a cease-fire in Gaza and an agreement to release hostages.

Their decision, praised as courageous by the festival's main curator, 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 Saturday.

Israel is among 88 participants in the 60th Venice Biennale, which runs from April 20-November 24.

Even before the preview, thousands of artists, curators and critics had signed an open letter calling on the Biennale to exclude the Israeli national pavilion. (AP)