Published by Maximus Bissiccio

Deira - Saint Levant

/Music

Updated January 27, 2025

Saint Levant, born Marwan Abdelhamid, grew up in Jerusalem during the Second Intifada before his family moved to Gaza and later Jordan. His early years in Gaza, where his family ran the Al Deira hotel, were formative, and the destruction of the hotel in 2023 heavily influenced his music. Speaking French, English, and Arabic, Saint Levant draws on his diverse background to create a personal yet universal sound. He later moved to the U.S. for university, where his music career began with tracks like Jerusalem Freestyle and Nirvana in Gaza, addressing themes of identity and the Palestinian struggle.
One of his most popular songs, Deira, was written after the bombing of his family’s hotel and reflects his commitment to both art and social change. Tracks like Very Few Friends and his EP From Gaza, with Love, capture his ability to merge languages and genres into something that connects deeply with listeners. On top of his music, he co-founded GrowHome to support Palestinian entrepreneurs and started the 2048 Foundation to help Palestinian creatives. Whether performing at Coachella or speaking out on social media, Saint Levant uses his platform to bring attention to the Palestinian cause and fight for justice.