Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf wants to give hope to nearly 5 million Palestinian refugees

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In this July 1, 2013 photo, Mohammed Assaf, performs in the West Bank city of Ramallah. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Majdi Mohammed

This year’s “Arab Idol” winner Mohammed Assaf, who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza, says he wants to give hope to the nearly 5 million Palestinian refugees and tell them nothing is impossible.

The 24-year-old singer told a news conference Tuesday that as the first Arab goodwill ambassador for youth for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees he feels “the load of responsibility” for speaking on behalf of young Palestinians.

“I want to do something … for the cause of my country, for the cause of my people,” he said, “and I want to make them feel there is hope, no matter how hard the conditions of life and the obstacles.”

Assaf is participating in events related to the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

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