Controversy surrounds a symposium on solidarity and art in Gaza at the Mucem in Marseille

he symposium Facing the Annihilation of Gaza: Creations, Hospitality, and Commitments, an event of the Mediterranean Season organized in part by the collective MAAN for Gaza Artists, sparked considerable controversy. Held on May 21 and 22, 2026, it brought together Gazan artists hosted in France as well as researchers specializing in the Mediterranean region and artistic migration. Participants were targeted by CRIF Marseille-Provence, which criticized what it viewed as an unbalanced interpretation of the “annihilation” of Gaza. On the opening day of the event, the organization mobilized its members, alongside the collective Nous Vivrons, outside the Mucem museum to protest the symposium, accusing it of being overly activist in nature, particularly because Francesca Albanese was scheduled to participate via videoconference.