Massive Attack dedicate Lebanese benefit gig to children of Gaza

British dance stars Massive Attack dedicated their charity concert in Lebanon on Tuesday (29Jul14) to the children of Gaza as the violence between Israeli and Palestinian forces continues to rise. The Teardrop hitmakers travelled to the Middle East this week (begs28Jul14) to play a benefit gig in Byblos for the Hoping Foundation, a pro-Palestinian organisation helping to fund the ambulance service in the troubled region of Gaza.
Massive Attack members Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall used their down time on Monday (28Jul14) to visit young refugees at the Al Naqab Center in Bourj el-Barajneh, Beirut, where they met with displaced youths and chatted to volunteers at the camp, which was initially set up to provide a safe haven for Palestinians escaping conflict in war-torn Syria, which neighbours Lebanon.
Speaking after the visit, Del Naja said, “Like most people we believe in peace and justice over violence and oppression.
“The crisis for Palestinians everywhere is most evident with the horrific violence and loss of life we have been witnessing in Gaza these past weeks. Massive Attack have always supported the Palestinian people in their struggle. We are therefore honoured to be working with these young people, and with the Hoping Foundation that serves them.”
Del Naja’s statements were reiterated during the band’s show on Tuesday, when the stars reaffirmed their support for the people of Palestine by flashing up a message on a big screen during their hit Unfinished Sympathy.
The message read: “Gaza has been occupied or under restrictions since 1948. 8 July Israel starts Operation Protective Edge. Population of Gaza: 1,816,000. Israeli death toll 60. Civilians 7. Palestinian dead 1,200. Civilians 864.”