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Hamas says some Arab dramas promote normalization with Israel

An Egyptian series starring Egyptian actor Mohamed Ramadan angered Hamas for portraying the Gaza Strip as a drug den in the 1940s; Hamas also is critical of Ramadan over issues involving Arab states' normalization of relations with Israel.

Mohamed Ramadan hugging Israeli singer Omer Adam
This image taken on Nov. 22, 2020, in Cairo shows a man holding a phone showing a picture of Egyptian acting and singing star Mohamed Ramadan (C) hugging Israeli singer Omer Adam (L) on a Dubai rooftop. The photo was posted by the official Facebook page of the State of Israel in Arabic. Ramadan, who boasts millions of followers in the Arab world and was the recipient of the 2019 All Africa Music Awards African Fans' Favorite prize, sparked a heated political debate after snapping selfies with an Israeli singer and soccer player. — KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Department of Artistic Production of the Hamas movement has lashed out at Egyptian actor Mohamed Ramadan and the creators of the Egyptian series “Musa” airing during the Muslim month of Ramadan. In a statement issued May 1, the department condemned the series’ use of the name of the Gaza Strip as a source for drug smuggling to Egypt.

Hamas' statement further accused Egyptian director Mohamed Salama and Mohamed Ramadan of deliberately insulting the Palestinian people, stoking the fire of sedition, and harming the historical relationship between the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples. “The series producers deliberately described the Gaza Strip as a den for drug smuggling,” the statement added.

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