Reuters reports on Gaza’s first rock band.
Gaza’s first rock band, Osprey V, is stepping into the limelight to sing about Israeli oppression
An accountant, two lawyers, an agronomist and a Swiss humanitarian worker have formed Gaza’s first rock band, giving voice in English to the pain of war in the Palestinian territory.
The unlikely group got together more than two years ago to create Osprey V, posting video clips online and projecting an aura of mystery by keeping their faces hidden.
Now, the band is ready to step into the limelight, with songs steeped in the emotions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In April, a month before an 11-day war between Gaza militants and Israel, they performed in “Live for Gaza”, an online concert to raise funds for musicians in the Palestinian Territories. Pro-Palestinian activist Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame also took part.
The band’s songwriter, Moamin El-Jaru, said Osprey V wants to convey both a universal message and one unique to Gaza, run by Hamas since 2007.
“I try to address situations or problems that face everybody in the world, but because I came from a place that has been cursed with so many wars and conflicts, I try to say that from my perspective, from my place from Gaza,” said El-Jaru, a lawyer by profession.
But they are not singing about the real oppression they are under.
Here’s one of their singles, Let’s Talk Evil, which makes no mention of Hamas, pretty much the personification of evil:
I am guessing the fact they are all dressed very conservatively, despite being a rock band, is also due to the aforementioned Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip with an iron fist, controlling things like the dress code.
The real story here is that Gaza’s first rock band – unlike other rock bands around the world – are not able to sing about or do as they please. Although, admittedly, there is a chance they are more than happy to do and sing as Hamas wish.
