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For the 60-year-old Abu Shawish, repairing ouds is far more than a profession.

Topic: geopoliticsRegion: asia pacificUpdated: i5 outletsSources: 17Spectrum: Mostly CenterFiltered: Middle East (5/16)· Clear⏱ 5 min read
📰 Scored from 5 outletsacross 3 Left 2 Center How we score bias →
Story Summary
SITUATION
In the heart of the Nuseirat refugee camp, Suhail Abu Shawish, a 60-year-old oud repairman, is on a mission to preserve Palestinian musical heritage amid the ruins of war. His workshop, filled with battered instruments and remnants of humanitarian aid, serves as a testament to the cultural resilience of Palestinians in Gaza, where the ongoing conflict has left many aspects of life in disarray.
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Spectrum: Mostly Center🌍Other: 9 · ME: 5 · Asia: 2
Political Spectrum
Position is inferred from coverage mix.
i5 outlets · Center
Left
Center
Right
Left: 3
Center: 13
Right: 0
Geography Coverage
Distribution of where coverage is coming from.
i5 unique outlets · Dominant: Global
KEY FACTS
  • Palestinian news agency Wafa reported on Sunday that an Israeli drone struck the al-Salatin area, west of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, killing at least two people and wounding at least one more.
  • They said that in a separate incident, 13-year-old Eileen al-Farra was killed by shrapnel from Israeli tank shelling, also in southern Gaza.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has intensified since March 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran, targeting its power plants, air defenses, and military infrastructure.

This military campaign has had significant repercussions in the region, leading to increased hostilities between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza, as well as heightened tensions with Iran. In response to the U.S. and Israeli actions, Iranian military forces have engaged in retaliatory measures, which have further escalated the violence in Gaza.

Brief

In the heart of the Nuseirat refugee camp, Suhail Abu Shawish, a 60-year-old oud repairman, is on a mission to preserve Palestinian musical heritage amid the ruins of war.

His workshop, filled with battered instruments and remnants of humanitarian aid, serves as a testament to the cultural resilience of Palestinians in Gaza, where the ongoing conflict has left many aspects of life in disarray.

Recently, an influx of young people has brought their damaged ouds to him for repair, reflecting a deep-seated desire to maintain their cultural identity despite the destruction surrounding them.

Abu Shawish's work is not merely a profession; it is a labor of love that connects the past with the present, as he painstakingly restores instruments that have been scarred by shelling. His manual techniques, including cutting wood and gluing shattered pieces, highlight the craftsmanship involved in preserving these cherished instruments.

As he navigates the challenges of his environment, his dedication to the oud symbolizes a broader struggle to keep Palestinian culture alive during a time of significant loss. The sound of the oud, echoing through the makeshift workshop, serves as a reminder of the enduring spirit of a people determined to hold onto their heritage.

Sources
5 of 16 linked articles · Filter: Middle East