An exhibition of paintings at west Belfast's Cultúrlann focussing on the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank has been suspended following a complaint from a member of the public.
The Palestinian Paintings by self-imposed Israeli exile Zohar were due to be shown on September 1 for two months.
The Kazakhstan-born Jewish artist's travelling exhibition has already been shown across the north and in border counties, including the Gasyard Centre in Derry, Omagh's Strule Arts Centre and the Market House Arts Centre in Monaghan.
The work depicts what Zohar terms the "ongoing fear, humiliation , horror and brutalism experienced by ordinary Palestinians on a daily, regular, recurring and current basis".
The 78-year-old classically-trained painter, who grew up in Israel and studied at the Belzalel Academy in Jerusalem, began the project in 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War, in which Israeli forces captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The occupation of both Palestinian territories is in breach of international law.
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Zohar has previously been commissioned to paint portraits of Princess Diana and Lord Browne of Belmont.
However, according to Joseph O'Neill, chair of Interfaith for Palestine and the exhibition's promoter, the artist learned this week that the show would not go ahead "due to an unspecified complaint from an unidentified person".
He said Zohar had offered to "reach out to engage in dialogue with this individual – if they are willing and able to engage in dialogue".
"This one-to-one dialogue could have prevented a punitive and unnecessary, bureaucratic procedure," Mr O'Neill said.
In a brief statement, Zohar said: "The paintings speak for themselves – no further comment is needed, except to say that people who will now not be able to see the exhibition in Belfast, can go on social media and see the truth of what is happening in the West Bank.
"You can't hide facts, truth and the historical events which are unfolding."
Spokesperson for Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich said a complaint had been received from a member of the public "in relation to an exhibition scheduled for September".
"We are looking into the complaint and pending the result of our review, the exhibition has been suspended," he said.
