Egyptian women at Cairo Bazaar. Photo: Ed Yourdon.

The Egyptian National Circus, which began a month-long visit to Gaza on Oct. 26, is putting on a show with no women due to fear over offending conservative Palestinians and Hamas, the Associated Press reported.

Businessman Mohammed Faris said a similar circus act he saw as a child in the 1950s did involve female acrobats, recalling “men and women, pretty women.”

However, Egyptian National Circus organizer Mohammed Silmi said the current circus was concerned Gazans would take offense to leaping women dressed in tights, and that Hamas requested the show abide by Gazan “traditions.”