A Star is Born from the Ashes of Gaza

Mohamad Assaf’s story began when he and another friend from Gaza decided to enter the Arab Idol competition. Assaf dreamed of becoming a famous artist, despite the difficulties of travel under occupation and siege. The day came and he and his friend tried to cross the Egyptian border by jumping over the wall. His friend managed to cross but Assaf could not and, when he finally arrived, it was too late for to enter the competition. So he jumped over the wall of the studio where the competition was being held and went inside, even though he was no longer on the list of contestants. When his friend saw him, and knowing that Assaf was the better singer, he offered Assaf his place. And that is how Assaf began his career.

Hamde Abu Rahma spoke with Assaf in Ramallah, and this is what he said:

“It began as a dream, and it came true. As a Palestinian, my main goal was to become a famous artist. That was a personal goal. But the second goal, which is even more important to me, is my home Palestine and the situation we’re living in. I want the world to know that Palestine is a place full of talented people who can do so many things, even under a life of occupation. And my mission is to let people know this.

“I am a son of Palestine and she never leaves my mind. She will live with me forever.

“Growing up in Gaza under such hard conditions made me a strong person and showed me that I could overcome anything and achieve my goal despite all challenges.

“Now I live in Dubai because it’s easier for me to travel and go where I have to in order to sing, but living away from home makes me miss my family and friends. My family has always refused to leave Gaza and live with me in Dubai. And that is something I am really proud of, that they didn’t want to leave. But I visit them – just last month I was in Gaza, but it’s not easy to go there during the attacks. Of course it’s hard to be away from your family. But I continue my relationship with them, because they’re my family and Gaza is my home. They are the ones who supported me and helped me become the person I am. Without them I would not be where I am today.

“The main message that I want to send to the world – not as an individual, but as a Palestinian who has lived under occupation – is a message of peace, a message of love; it is the story of a people that has been divided for more than 66 years, a people that wants to live in a land free of occupation like any other people in the world lives, with no army, no settlements, no walls, no checkpoints to make you feel like you’re in a prison, with a decent political and economic situation. That is my duty as a Palestinian artist; to talk about these things, to serve my people, and I’m grateful that now I can do something for my Palestinian people through my art.”