GAZA, June 23 (UPI) -- Mohamed Assaf became the first Palestinian to win the Arab Idol television contest, officials said.
After Assaf was announced the winner of the Arab Idol television contest Saturday, thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza took to the streets to celebrate, setting off fireworks to mark the occasion.
"If I keep thanking you forever it is never enough," Assaf said in a speech after he was declared the winner of the contest, Ma'an said.
Assaf said he planned to return to his home in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip and later perform in the West Bank.
Also Saturday, a diplomatic source in Beirut where the television show was filmed, told the Ma'an news agency 23-year-old Assaf signed an agreement to become the regional youth ambassador for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
"A man with a golden voice is going to take the Palestinians' voice to the universe. At long last, a fantastic story out of Gaza that will touch the hearts of the world," the source told the news agency.
