Installed above the rubble-strewn fireplace in the lobby of Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem dubbed by the artist as offering “the worst view in the world” Mediterranean Sea View confronts visitors with a striking blend of Romantic seascape and contemporary tragedy.

Comprising three found oil paintings in ornate, traditional frames, the work appears at first to belong to a bygone era of fine art. Yet Banksy’s hand-painted interventions life jackets and discarded buoys drifting in stormy waters transform these familiar seascapes into haunting commentaries on the refugee crisis and the mass deaths at sea.

Donated to ABCD Bethlehem, the piece continues its mission of social responsibility, supporting children with disabilities across Palestine regardless of faith, race, or gender.