In July 2017, Abeer (not her real name), a Gaza resident who had just been accepted to an M.A. program in engineering and business at Edinburgh University, submitted an application to the Israeli authorities for a permit to exit the … Continue reading
A few years ago, the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) took to social media to boast about the annual visit of a delegation of medical specialists from the USA, which it had proudly let in to Gaza, … Continue reading
It is once again that time of year when farmers who cultivate land near Gaza’s perimeter fence nervously glance up at the sky, tensing up at any sound of a motor. Twice a year, Israel sends planes to spray chemical … Continue reading
Majd Al Mashharawi, 24, is a young entrepreneur from the Gaza Strip. Among other innovations, she is the inventor of Green Cake, the environmentally friendly brick that can be used as an alternative to cement, which Israel limits from entering … Continue reading
Fuel purchased with Qatari funding for Gaza’s only power plant has significantly increased Gaza’s power supply. After years of decreasing supply, much of the Gaza Strip now has electricity throughout the night. Continue reading
The U.S. decision to end funding to the UN agency dealing with Palestinian refugees threatens to further undermine well-being in the Strip amidst already dismal living conditions. Continue reading
When a Coca Cola bottling factory opened in Gaza in 2016, it was regarded as a rare source of hope for the Strip, promising to boost economic activity and provide over 200 jobs to Gaza residents. But even the world-famous megacorporation is not immune to the realities of Israel’s sanctions at Kerem Shalom. Continue reading
Twenty-four-year-old Majd Al Mashharawi is a young entrepreneur from Gaza and a founder of Sun Box, a company that manufactures small-scale solar power devices for home use. In early July, Majd and her colleagues finalized arrangements for a shipment of equipment to enter Gaza. But ever since July 10, when Israel closed the Kerem Shalom Crossing to all but food and fuel, the shipment has been stuck at the Port of Ashdod in Israel. Continue reading
The communications company Jawwal recently installed a large screen on one of Gaza’s busiest streets, near the seafront, where residents gather to spend their leisure time. When Gisha’s field coordinator, Mohammed Azaiza, arrived at the spot about half an hour before the Brazil-Belgium match was due to begin, most of the seats were already taken. People from all walks of life attended the event; many were sitting on the sidewalk. Continue reading
The days leading up to Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, used to be the busiest time of year for A., a Gaza chocolate distributor. He and his staff would start planning four months before the holiday. This year, Because of the dire economic situation in Gaza, further exacerbated over the past year by Israel’s tightening of the closure and the Palestinian Authority delaying salary payments to its employees in Gaza, A. says no one is buying chocolate. Continue reading
