Palestinians learn to cope with the strict Israeli siege of Gaza

Despite the strict Israeli siege, the residents of the Gaza Strip have found ways to create hundreds of work opportunities and rebuild dozens of the facilities destroyed by the Israeli occupation during last summer’s offensive. In short, the Palestinians have learnt to cope.

Although there were no crushing plants for gravel because there are no rocks to crush, the destruction of so many buildings by the Israelis has led to the need for such machines to reduce the cement rubble into a useable form. The ingenuity of the Palestinians has seen them make crushers throughout the enclave. Thus they not only clear the rubble but also produce the recycled gravel which is an important part of the materials needed for new construction work.

With very little cement being allowed into the Gaza Strip through the sole commercial border crossing controlled by the Israelis at Kerem Shalom, the Palestinians can start the rebuilding process for the most important public facilities and some homes. They use bricks made of recycled gravel, and recycle steel as well.

In this way, the Palestinians in Gaza have created hundreds of jobs in the face of a tightened siege led by Israel. However, tens of thousands of workers are still unemployed and thousands of homes and other facilities destroyed by the Israeli occupation in three wars since 2008 are still waiting to be rebuilt or repaired.

Images by MEMO Photographer Mohammed Asad.