Lebanese musician Mahdi Saheli is playing the cello while seated on the ruins of buildings destroyed by bombings in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital. Through his music, he aims to convey the message that war-torn Beirut can be restored to its former state.
Following heightened tensions with Iran, the United States and Israel launched a war, prompting the Israeli military to carry out operations targeting the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Lebanese officials have reported that Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people in Lebanon.
Saheli has studied the Western classical instrument, the cello. He enjoys creating music for the general public. Speaking to the BBC, he said, “By playing the cello on the streets during Beirut’s difficult times, hope and unity can be instilled among the people, and the spirit of our shared humanity can be revived.”
