GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The second and largest exhibition for pigeon enthusiasts and breeders in the Palestinian territories took place in Gaza April 7-9. Turnout was high, including the participation of 170 breeders and 250 pairs of rare and fancy pigeons. Gaza's first gathering of this kind was held in April 2015.

The exhibition was held in Gaza City's Saad Sayel arena and was organized by a popular Facebook group called Pigeons in Palestine, followed by over 13,000 pigeon enthusiasts and breeders from Palestine.

Coordinator Mohammed al-Ghoul told Al-Monitor, “We have been preparing for this since 2007, and Facebook played a major role in gathering this huge number of pigeon enthusiasts, most of them young. We sent out many invitations to many people, including some in Jordan, Egypt, Arabian Gulf [countries] and Oman, but they could not attend because of the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and the closure of crossings.”

He explained that the coordinating committee for the exhibition contacted Nasser Al Hindi, the head of the Jordanian Society of Breeders and Enthusiasts of Pigeons and Ornamental Birds. The group invited the Omani Association for Bird Enthusiasts as well as various figures from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman to participate. Because of the closure of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, they were unable to attend, but expressed support and encouragement for the exhibition.