A Cry from Jerusalem: Banat al-Quds Honor Gaza in a Moving Concert

“We sing, perhaps the echo of our voice returns a blessing. We sing with pain, hope, honor, and pride.”1

In honor of Gaza, the all-female Jerusalemite choir and ensemble Banat al-Quds gave a moving concert at the Ramallah Cultural Palace in Ramallah on Saturday May 10, 2025. The event commenced with a moment of silence for Gaza, followed by a heartfelt speech, setting a tone of solidarity, grief, and steadfastness for the event. Engaged and emotional, the audience sang along, and gave several standing ovations throughout the performance, notably following “Salam li-Ghazza” (“Salute to Gaza”) and “Wa Tabqa Shireen” (“Shireen Remains”).

The concert took place one day before the three-year mark since Israeli bullets killed Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on May 11, 2022. In remembrance of Abu Akleh, the choir played their original song dedicated to her legacy. “Shireen Abu Akleh remains an icon. Her story with Banat al-Quds was meant to be a passing memory, only for her name to be immortalized in our memory a week later, with a press report [from Jenin] that will never see the light,”2 said a choir member in the opening speech.

The performance was attended by a large crowd, including a notable group of released prisoners from the latest prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. Deeply moved, attendees wished for more of such performances; however, the group has faced some challenges given the current political circumstances.3

Banat al-Quds was established by the Edward Said National Conservatory for Music (ESNCM) in 2013 and has been led by Suhail Khoury since then. Their performances feature pieces by famous Arab composers, including original music written by Khoury himself. The rousing shows evoke in listeners a sense of patriotism, connect them with their—perhaps stifled—grief, and revive their pride and joy in their Palestinian heritage.