Play time is over in Gaza

Repairs to playgrounds and toys have become too expensive as a result of the price hikes

by Mohammed Asad

Image of Palestinians building rides of a children’s park [ Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Image of Palestinian children playing in a park [ Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

A workshop that made ride for children’s playgrounds in the Gaza Strip has been forced to close because of Israel’s siege on the Strip.

Mohamed Hasaballah, the owner of a fibreglass factory in Gaza, said he shut down the department specialised in producing several forms of structures used in children’s playgrounds because restriction on imports into the Strip have stifled production.

Hasaballah said that he used to buy one gallon of fibreglass resin for $55 before the siege however this now costs $500. Repairs to playgrounds and toys have become too expensive as a result of the price hikes.

Walking through one of Gaza’s children’s playgrounds it is easy to spot the many broken swings and slides and the holes dotted around the area. A guard in the area said the playground could not be repaired because of the lack of materials available.

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