Founded by an accountant, two lawyers and an agricultural engineer in Gaza
Osprey V..a rock band that sings the pain of the Palestinians
The band's songs convey a global message and another one concerning Gaza's concerns.
Reuters
An accountant, two lawyers, an agricultural engineer and a Swiss aid worker founded the first rock band in the Gaza Strip, to sing in English, expressing the pain of war in the Palestinian territories.
The unexpected group formed more than two years ago to form the Osprey V, posting videos online and shrouded in an aura of mystery by hiding their faces.
Now the band is preparing to enter the spotlight with emotional songs related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In April, the band performed an online concert “I Live for Gaza” to collect donations for musicians in the Palestinian territories. British singer Roger Waters, founder of the Pink Floyd band, participated in that concert.
Moamen al-Jarro, the band's songwriter, said that the "Osprey V" band wants to convey a global message and a message that belongs to Gaza.
“I try to address situations or problems facing everyone in the world, but because I came from a place afflicted with so many wars and conflicts, I am trying to say that from my point of view, from my place, from Gaza,” added Al-Jarro, a lawyer.
One of the band's songs, entitled "Watan", begs the people, saying: "We will scream our pain... Can you hear the call?"
Accountant Raji al-Jaro, the band's lead singer and cousin of Moamen al-Jaro, was the driving force behind the formation of the band, which he describes as the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
At one of the rehearsals, Raggi told "Reuters" that the Osprey band sings in English, "so everyone will understand and everyone will be affected by the message", which he described as "a cry of anger in the face of injustice."
For Moamen Al-Jar, the title of the song “Watan” has a touching meaning for the Palestinians who were displaced by the war with Israel.
Moamen said: "When I sing about a homeland, I sing about a homeland for the Palestinians, and everyone who is in a difficult situation does not feel that he is in a homeland."
Thomas Kucherhans, a drummer from Switzerland, said he joined the band three years ago when he was doing humanitarian work in Gaza.
"When I first heard them, I was really shocked, but in a very good sense, I didn't think music of this quality existed in Gaza," added Kucherhans, who had to leave Gaza earlier this year after his mission.
Despite the lack of interest in Western music in conservative Gaza, the band, named after a bird of prey, has high hopes for success.
"I'd love to be Palestinian metallica (like the American band Metallica) or Roger Waters' Pink Floyd (band)," Raji Al-Jarro said.
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