Osprey V is a Palestinian rock band from Gaza. It is likely that they are the first musical group of their type from the territory.
Background The band is made up of an accountant, two lawyers, an agronomist and in the past included a Swiss humanitarian worker. The band is led by accountant, Raji El-Jaru. Both he and his cousin Moamin El-Jaru were instrumental in the band's creation. Another member is cousin Saed.euronews.culture, 24/01/2022 - Meet the rock band shining a light on the people of Gaza's struggles By Rosie-Lyse Thompson & Ruwaida Amer As Gaza's first rock group,Reuters, August 6, 2021 - Middle East, 'We'll scream our pain': Gaza's first rock band, Osprey V, takes wing By Nidal Al-Mughrabi the band came into being in 2017.Middle East Eye, 29 November 2022 - In pictures: Rage against the siege - Gaza rock band gives voice to Palestinian plight - Rakan Abed El Rahman They practiced and performed in a studio above an electrical store which was owned by the father of one of the band members.Vanity Fair, January 25, 2022 - Generation Gaza: The Young Have Pride Despite Privations BY JANINE DI GIOVANNI
One of the struggles the band had was coming up against the unfamiliarity that Gazans had with Western Music and the difference that it has with traditional Palestinian culture.Đài Phát thanh - Truyền hình Đồng Nai, 29/01/2022 - Ban nhạc rock chiến đấu cho người dân Gaza
They needed a drummer, and they took on Swiss aid worker Thomas Kocherhans who was currently doing aid work in Gaza. Kocherhans was positively surprised when he heard them because he did not think that such quality music existed in Gaza. He had to leave Gaza in 2021 as his work assignment had come to an end.The Business Standard, 05 August, 2021 - 'We'll scream our pain': Gaza's first rock band, Osprey V, takes wing The band is ready to step into the limelight, with songs steeped in the emotions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
In the beginning they created an air of mystery by having their faces covered. They sing about the issue of Palestinians and their plight.Daily Sabah, AUG 04, 2021 - Gaza's 1st rock band gives voice to Palestinian cause, pains
As of 2022, they were managed by Asmaa Tayeh, a young lady who studied English literature at Al-Azhar University.We Are Not Numbers, 18 Mar 2022 - Asmaa Tayeh
The group's influences include Metallica and Linkin Park.Sky News, Saturday 2 November 2024 - 'We left the club and lines of soldiers were pointing guns': The musicians fighting back in war zones - Michael Drummond According to Raji El-Jaru in a 2021 Level Up article by Sahil Sachdeva, he would love the band to be the Palestinian version of Metallica or Pink Floyd.Level Up, August 31, 2021 - Gaza’s First Rock Band – Osprey V Takes Flight - Sahil Sachdeva Career The group performed one night at the studio that was above the shop and journalist Janine di Giovanni went to hear them play.
Their song "Home" premiered on December 13, 2019.Osprey V channel - Osprey V - Home
They performed live in an online concert, "Live for Gaza" which was in April 2021. Roger Waters of Pink Floyd was an attendee. The event was to raise money for artists in the Palestinian territories.Pakistan Observer, 2021 - Gaza’s first rock band, Osprey V gives voice to Palestinians Other attendees were Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, and Brian Eno. In addition to Osprey V, other artists from Gaza were Wafaa Alnjeili, and Badeel Band.Rolling Stone, APRIL 9, 2021 - MUSIC, Roger Waters, Tom Morello, Brian Eno Plan ‘Live for Gaza’ EventFormer Pink Floyd singer-songwriter will perform a new rendition of his solo song, "The Bravery of Being Out of Range" BY KORY GROW
In 2022, they received support from the Intersticia Foundation, with funds to go towards sound and recording equipment.Intersticia - Intersticia’s Decade in Review, 2022
In a clip uploaded by the Delia Arts Foundation, dated Jun 21, 2023, the band members talk about their upcoming debut album.Delia Arts Foundation - Osprey V أوسبري: Delia Sessions # 015 | Drops (قطرات الحياة), Home (وطن), 5:00
Sometime in 2023, in the period before the war, Osprey V played in a concert hall to an audience of hundreds who packed into the venue.Sky News, Saturday 2 November 2024 - 'We left the club and lines of soldiers were pointing guns': The musicians fighting back in war zones - Michael Drummond Their shelter in Gaza collapsed during the bombings, and the band recorded their music video Inaudible showing them using a car to record.
According to the Vanity Fair in January 2024 article, by Janine di Giovanni, Osprey V had planned to play in Europe but due to the Gaza war, it didn't happen. Giovanni was on a quest to find out how Raji el-Jaru was. She managed to make contact with him.Vanity Fair, January 12, 2024 - Surviving the Israel-Hamas War: A Young Palestinian Rock Musician’s Ordeal By Janine di Giovanni
According to a 2 November 2024 article by Sky News, the group was concentrating on survival rather than music and their aspirations of playing in Europe had changed to them wondering if they would ever play again.Sky News, Saturday 2 November 2024 - 'We left the club and lines of soldiers were pointing guns': The musicians fighting back in war zones - Michael Drummond In 2025, Raji and Ash relocated to Jordan. Sa'ed was in Egypt and Momen remained in Gaza.
Members Musicians: Raji Al Jaro – lead singer, rhythm guitarist and lyricist Momen Al Jaro – bass guitarist and lyricist Sa'ed Al Jaro – lead guitarist, lyricist and backing vocalist Ash Moniz – drummer and creative director
Delia Arts Foundation - Osprey V أوسبري: Delia Sessions # 015 | Drops (قطرات الحياة), Home (وطن), Musicians
Further reading and viewing Reuters, August 6, 2021 - Middle East, 'We'll scream our pain': Gaza's first rock band, Osprey V, takes wing By Nidal Al-Mughrabi TRT Global, August 29, 2021 - Palestinian rock group sings about life in the besieged territoryOsprey V, an English rock band in Gaza, sings about life in the besieged territory and wants to “send messages of love to the world” instead of “messages of violence and hatred”. Nizar Sadawi has their story. #OspreyV euronews.culture, 24/01/2022 - Meet the rock band shining a light on the people of Gaza's struggles By Rosie-Lyse Thompson & Ruwaida Amer WUNC, February 6, 2024 - The man who founded the first rock band in Gaza talks about his hopes for the future - Interview, Hosted by Leila Fadel (audio and transcript) Reddit - Osprey V, a western-style rock band out of Gaza
References
External links Osprey V channel - Osprey V - "Home" (song), Premiered Dec 13, 2019 Delia Arts Foundation - Osprey V أوسبري: Delia Sessions # 015 | Drops (قطرات الحياة), Home (وطن) (audio and video) Delia Arts Foundation - Osprey V أوسبري: Delia Sessions # 015 | Drops (قطرات الحياة), Home (وطن) (audio and video)