One contestant on `` Arab Idol , '' the Middle Eastern version of American Idol , has been drawing attention because of more than just his impressive vocals . Mohammed Assaf , a 22-year-old college student , is the first `` Arab Idol '' finalist from Gaza . He gained popularity across the Middle East with his touching renditions of patriotic Palestinian songs . He has been a judge favorite since the show began in March and has become a household name in both the West Bank and Gaza , where his poster hangs in restaurants , shops and homes . The young singer has succeeded in achieving what the `` two parties in Palestine failed to do -- unite Ramallah and Gaza , '' wrote parent network MBC in an article on the show 's website . Last weekend Assaf received a call from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah , West Bank . `` Abbas confirmed his support of the singer and said that Assaf has made Palestine and the Arab world proud , urging Palestinians and Arabs to vote for the singer , '' reported the official Palestinian news agency , WAFA . It was no small task for Assaf to travel to Cairo to audition for the wildly popular show . `` He needed a visa ( to cross the Gaza-Egypt border ) , but he did n't have one , '' his father , Jabar , told CNN from Khan Younis , a refugee camp in Gaza . Israel imposes a blockade on Gaza , leaving residents without access to an airport . Palestinian officials had to make special arrangements for Assaf to leave Gaza , his mother , UmShadi , a math teacher , explained . By the time he arrived in Cairo , the doors to the venue where auditions were held had already closed . `` So he jumped the wall , '' she said . Security guards seized him and were going to escort him out when a Palestinian official with the show recognized Assaf from his performances in Gaza and gave him a candidate number , allowing him to compete . When asked by judges on the show why it took him two days to travel the 250 miles from Gaza to Cairo , Assaf simply replied , `` problems at the crossing and such . '' Assaf is one of seven children . `` We are refugees ! '' his father proclaimed . `` We only dreamed he would get to this point and show the world his beautiful voice . Now we want him to win ! '' `` Palestinians are not the way ( the world ) see ( s ) them , '' he explained . `` They like to be happy . They like to sing . '' `` I am very proud of him -- the fact that he 's Palestinian , he is popular , and he makes people happy , '' his mother said . `` We are n't used to the fame , '' she said , `` but we are very happy . '' When asked about her son 's newfound popularity with the ladies , his mother says , `` The girls do n't come here , to our house . But they are all over the Internet and Facebook . '' The family says social media has also been a platform where Islamic hardliners have criticized use of the world `` idol '' in the name of the show . But UmShadi says her eldest daughter took to social media to clarify the context of the word as `` beloved '' rather than `` worshipped . '' The show features four judges and 12 finalists from countries across the Middle East . Contestants sing live , and the public votes via text message for their favorite singer . Two finalists were eliminated last weekend , rounding out the top 10 . Now in its second season , '' Arab Idol '' has gripped audiences across the world with contestants who represent many of the Middle East 's struggles . Competing alongside Assaf for the top spot is the show 's first non-Arabic speaking finalist , Parwas Hussein , who is Kurdish , and Iraqi contestant Mohanad Marsoomy . Kurds and Iraqis have long fought over Iraq 's northern region , known as Iraqi Kurdistan . There are also two contestants from war-torn Syria , though both have been careful not to take sides . The remaining Arab Idol contestants are : Faris Al Madani from Saudi Arabia , AbdelKarim Hmdan from Syria , Ahmed Jamal from Egypt , Farah Youssef from Syria , Ziad Khoury from Lebanon , Yosra Saouf from Morocco , and Salma Rachid from Morocco .
Mohammed Assaf , 22 , is the first `` Arab Idol '' finalist from Gaza . He was born in a refugee camp and grew up with his family in an abandoned house on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called to congratulate the college student last weekend .