As Israeli forces continue to commit ceasefire violations, the fight for a liberated Palestine still persists as one that requires global action, including through the arts.
In an attempt to help support the 12,000 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff still on the ground in Gaza, artists and advocates gathered in resilient solidarity for a music fundraiser at the Palestine House of Freedom on Nov. 16.
The fundraiser featured vocal, instrumental and illustrative performances leading up to a screening of the visual adaptations of songs “I Am Not Afraid” and “Melody For What Is Lost,” composed by Niko Michalopoulos and directed by Ilana Alazzeh. Belly dancer Crystal Silmi performed in both videos, and high school sophomore Jennah Mokhtarzada sings the lyrics of “I Am Not Afraid” in its respective film.
Michalopoulos views these projects as sheer activism. While he is not Palestinian himself, the artist of Armenian and Greek heritage sees the desire to help liberate the occupied territory as something that should come naturally.
“It’s what it means to be human,” he told The Informer about the activism that stems from this plight. “Palestinians are on the front lines all the time. Literally, their bodies are over there,… so for me, as a Middle Eastern artist,… I feel like it’s essential to say something.”
While these songs serve as a means to spread awareness about the Palestinian genocide and the devastation the country and its people have faced, they also shine a light on and honor the resilience of Palestinians in Gaza and abroad. The videos, which were filmed in just a few hours, with a crew full of people who traveled hours to help, are a way to spread the message even further and hopefully allow more people to understand the need for a Palestine that is truly free after decades of occupation.
The advocates note that spreading awareness, offering a call to action and displaying unshakeable solidarity through these videos — during this fundraiser and at the Palestine House of Freedom through its regular programming and events — represent why global solidarity and action are essential to the cause.
Alezzeh, who is of Palestinian and Israeli descent, emphasized her support for Palestine’s liberation is unwavering. In a panel following the screening, she described the dehumanization she’s experienced from one side of her family as paralyzing, which is why she was so grateful to have worked on these projects, which offered her a sense of solace and healing.
“This was a great opportunity to do something creative and constructive,” Alazzeh said to the audience. “It’s time to stop being so frozen and step into our power.”
Art Born from Loss, Made for Liberation
Michalopoulos composed “Melody For What Is Lost” even before the onslaught of death and destruction in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023.
The song is an ode to the land and people that had already been lost in Palestine, as the country and its people have been subject to targeted displacement and violence since Israel’s establishment and Nakba Day– or “Memory of the Catastrophe”– on May 14 and 15, 1948, respectively, and the occupation of Palestinian territories in June 1967.
“I’ve actually stopped creating art that’s not associated with Palestine at this point,” Michalopoulous told The Informer. “It might sound a bit like [my] head is in the sky, but I’m not sure what art can do if you’re not going to talk about this.”
“I Am Not Afraid” strings together the words Michalopoulos has heard online from videos of children in Palestine, featuring lyrics such as, “Mama died last night,” “All alone here I stay,” “Send us your power/ My spirit will not cower.” He told the audience that almost none of the words written were his own, but rather snippets he wove together to portray the suffering and strength Palestinian children endure and possess.
In May, UNICEF reported that more than 50,000 children had been killed or injured in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. According to Save the Children, at least one Palestinian child is killed per hour by Israeli forces.
During her performances in the short films, Silmi drew attention to Palestinian children’s deaths by aerobically dancing with a white veil. She used the fabric to represent the image of Palestinian mothers holding their deceased children who are wrapped in white shrouds– something many on social media have borne witness to within the last two years of genocide. At the end, she surrenders to the veil and is covered by it.
“The beautiful thing about our people, the Palestinian people, is that they entrust everything to God,” Silmi said to the audience. “Everything is God’s will, and so that is sort of the surrender. I surrender to what my faith is.”
Even though tragic circumstances inspired the composition and filming of the two songs, Alezzeh wanted the visuals to “feel epic” and remind people of their power, of Palestinians’ bravery, while emphasizing the importance of passing down the torch of activism to generations of Arab women, through parallel images of Slimi and Jennah.
She wants to spread the message that supporting Palestinians doesn’t stop in Palestine itself, but rather encompasses all the country’s people, including those who are abroad.
“Always reach out to the Palestinian or the Arab next to you because we’re all feeling this kind of dehumanization,” she said, “and community and art is how we humanize each other and let us know that we’re worthy of being alive.”
Thank you Mya for coming to our event and sharing about the importance of Palestinian liberation
Thank you for this moving piece that honors how artists transform grief into solidarity and action, amplifying Palestinian voices through courage, care, and creativity. It powerfully reminds us that art can sustain resilience, awaken conscience, and help carry the call for justice across borders.