{"id":66391,"date":"2024-03-02T01:37:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-02T01:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/arab-musicians-songs-about-gaza-put-spotlight-on-palestinian-issues\/"},"modified":"2024-03-02T01:37:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-02T01:37:03","slug":"arab-musicians-songs-about-gaza-put-spotlight-on-palestinian-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/arab-musicians-songs-about-gaza-put-spotlight-on-palestinian-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Arab musicians’ songs about Gaza put spotlight on Palestinian issues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From pathos to praise of Hamas, songs written by musicians across the Middle East in response to Israel\u2019s offensive in Gaza are putting the Palestinian issue back at the forefront of Arab popular culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watch ARY News live on\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>live.arynews.tv<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The music mixes defiance, helplessness and anger over the\u00a0war\u00a0being waged by Israel on Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n

In Cairo, the popular Egyptian wedding singer known as Rudy takes requests for her new lyrics praising Hamas military spokesman Abu Obaida.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbu Obaida, O Lion-Hearted \u2026 set them all ablaze,\u201d she belts out to a percussive beat.<\/p>\n

In Jordan, artists from different Arab states gathered in October to record a song dreaming of a Palestinian \u2018return\u2019 to lands occupied by Israel. It has been viewed millions of times on social media.<\/p>\n

The rise in popularity of songs that sympathise with the Palestinians or encourage Hamas \u2013 including by artists who generally avoid politics \u2013 reflects anger over Israel\u2019s bombardment of Gaza, its occupation of Palestinian territory and U.S. and European support for its military campaign.<\/p>\n

It also shows the support among Arab people for Hamas and for armed opposition as Israel tries to eradicate the group.<\/p>\n

Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in an attack on Israel on October 7, according to Israeli tallies. Nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been confirmed killed in Israel\u2019s military retaliation, Gaza health officials say.<\/p>\n

The conflict has proved divisive worldwide and ignited broader cultural battles.<\/p>\n

The annual Eurovision Song Contest, billed as a non-political event, has been marred by controversy over Israel\u2019s entry mentioning the October 7 attack.<\/p>\n

Vitriolic\u00a0debates\u00a0on U.S. university campuses have affected the careers of some staff, and students have accused each other of antisemitism and Islamophobia.<\/p>\n

In Israel, artists have also produced songs about October 7. Some reflect on the suffering of victims, others are vengeful.<\/p>\n

One music video features a survivor of a Hamas attack on a music festival on October 7. Another, produced by Israeli rapper Subliminal, shows residential blocks in Gaza being flattened by airstrikes while Israeli tanks and snipers prepare for war.<\/p>\n

KEYS AND KUFFIYAHS<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In Arab societies, a vast majority of people see the war as a Western-backed assault on Palestinian civilians.<\/p>\n

Wedding singer Rudy said watching Israeli attacks left her feeling helpless and wanting to sing in support of Hamas.<\/p>\n

At many weddings where she performs, attendees ask her to sing about Gaza, including her song about Abu Obaida, who became a regular feature on Arab news channels after the war began, appearing masked in videos to read out Hamas statements.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbu Obaida \u2013 we see him as a hero who stands up against Israel. There are children dying and he is standing up to defend them,\u201d Rudy said.<\/p>\n

Lebanese rapper Jaafar Touffar also raps about Abu Obaida and the Aqsa Flood \u2013 the name Hamas gave its October 7 assault \u2013 and says \u2018more is coming\u2019 to Israel.<\/p>\n

A poll by the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Qatar in January showed that 67% of 8,000 respondents saw the Oct. 7 attack as a \u2018legitimate resistance operation\u2019 against the occupation.<\/p>\n

Only 5% said it was an \u2018illegitimate\u2019 attack. Three-quarters viewed the U.S. and Israel as the biggest threats to regional security and stability.<\/p>\n

In Saudi Arabia, a poll by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy showed 96% of respondents believed Arab countries should cut all ties with Israel.<\/p>\n

Before October 7, Palestinian issues had been largely forgotten about as Gulf kingdoms normalised\u00a0relations with Israel and abandoned demands for a Palestinian state.<\/p>\n

Now such issues dominate discussions of regional politics, from social media to homes, coffee shops and the halls of power.<\/p>\n

In a music video by Kuwaiti singer Humood Al Khuder, symbols long used by pro-Palestinian activists abound: keys to homes Palestinians lost during the establishment of Israel in 1948, the black-and-white kuffiyah headscarf, and a lost wandering cartoon refugee child called Handala.<\/p>\n

\u2018NEVER FORGET WHAT\u2019S HAPPENING\u2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Lebanese musician Zeid Hamdan said his music now focused on the war and its spillover into Lebanon, where Israel and militant group Hezbollah exchange rocket fire and airstrikes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t perform any more to promote myself as an artist. I am on stage to wake people up and to spread a message of urgency. I am going from fundraiser to fundraiser to protest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Arab musicians realise their music may not change the course of the war, or influence Arab leaders.<\/p>\n

Ghaliaa Chaker, whose song \u2018Returning\u2019<\/em> was recorded in Jordan with 24 other Middle Eastern artists, says her aim is to keep Gaza\u2019s plight in the spotlight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really hope they (Gazans) know they\u2019re in our prayers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the best we can hope for \u2026 to keep talking about it. Never forget what\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Euphoria\u2019 actor arrested for pro-Palestine protest<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n