Gaza Kitty… I Want My Ball Back is a rare Banksy sculpture acquired from The Walled Off Hotel, taking inspiration from the artist’s 2015 mural in Gaza.

The original mural depicted a kitten playing with a ball made from rusted metal, an image that appeared playful at first glance, yet was rooted in the devastation surrounding it. Banksy used the familiar appeal of a cat to draw attention to destruction, displacement, and the way serious global issues are often overshadowed by more digestible images online.

In sculptural form, the work becomes even more direct. The phrase “I want my ball back” transforms a childlike demand into a charged statement on loss, return, and the human desire for peace.

Rarely available, this piece stands as a powerful example of Banksy’s ability to use humour, innocence, and discomfort to confront some of the most urgent realities of our time.

Banksy in Gaza. Image copyright Banksy