Gaza resort attacked for holding mixed-gender concert
A group of masked men bombed a tourist resort in the Gaza Strip for holding a concert for both men and women, which raises questions on whether fundamentalists are once again gaining the upper hand in the coastal enclave.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Five unknown individuals attacked Aug. 5 a tourist resort in the northern Gaza Strip with an explosive device, causing part of the wall surrounding the seaside tourist site to collapse. There were no casualties. The attackers wanted to prevent the holding of a mixed-gender concert.
The Bianco Resort, one of Gaza’s most luxurious tourist sites, opened its doors for visitors in July. It is a private investment project built on an area of 12 dunams (3 acres) and employs some 120 workers.
The resort has gained great popularity in the coastal enclave that has been under Hamas’ control since 2007. The tourist center offers its visitors a unique tourist experience in terms of relaxation, swimming and accommodation. It contains hotel suites and rooms, private chalets for families, a concert hall, swimming pools, restaurants and cafes.
A few hours before the bombing, a Salafist preacher named Issa Miqdad headed to the resort on the evening of Aug. 4, and asked the owner to cancel the gender-mixed concert, but the owner rejected the request.
