Banksy creates satirical film and new artwork in Gaza

Banksy has visited Gaza to make a short documentary about the war-torn region, and to make a statement about the conflict in his famous street art style.

He is seen entering the city through illegal underground tunnels, and opens the door into an area completely devastated by the war between Israel and Palestine. At least 62 children were killed in the wake of the Israeli Army's Operation Protective Edge, which saw 18,000 Palestinian homes reduced to rubble, reports the Huffington Post.

He then proceeds to leave his signature mark in an effort to highlight the issues the people there are facing. One image (above), called Bomb Damage, shows the mythical Greek figure Niobe cowering with her head in her hands amid the a of rubble, according to the Standard.

His video and pictures were uploaded to his website, banksy.co.uk, and to YouTube.

The satirical video opens like a travel advert, reading: "Make this the year you cover a new destination. Welcome to Gaza."

As it shows the desperate level of destruction on the city's streets, it continues: "Well away from the tourist tracks (Access is via a network of illegal tunnels).

"The locals like is so much they never leave (Because they're not allowed to).

"Nestled in an exclusive setting (Surrounded by a wall on three sides and a line of gun boats on the other).

"Watched over by friendly neighbours (In 2014 Operation Protective Edge destroyed 18,000 homes).

"Development opportunities are everywhere (No cement has been allowed into Gaza since the bombing)."

One image he painted shows children using a military tower as a fairground ride, with the caption reading: "Gaza is often described as 'the world's largest open air prison' because no-one is allowed to enter or leave. But that seems a bit unfair to prisons - they don't have their electricity and drinking water cut off randomly almost every day."

Banksy painted a large picture of a cat playing with a metal ball and a local says on the video: "This cat tells the whole world that she is missing joy in her life. The cat found something to play with. What about our children? What about our children?"

The video finished with these words written on a wall: "If we wash our hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless, we side with the powerful - we don't remain neutral."