Isra Saleh El-Namy describes how her family celebrates Eid al-Adha in Gaza and what the holiday means to the besieged strip a year after the war with Israel. 8 year old Yazzan tells her “I wanted to seize every moment to play to have fun with my friends. I want to compensate what I have missed during last year Eid.”
Isra Saleh El-Namy reports from Rafah where Palestinians are still recovering from the Israeli onslaught known as “Black Friday” a year ago when the IDF laid waste to southern Gaza following the capture of an IDF soldier.
Egypt recently opened the Rafah crossing with Gaza for four days; the first time it had been open in over two months. Isra Saleh El-Namy interviews people trying to leave Gaza through Rafah, including families trying to receive medical treatment, students attempting to return to school and workers hoping to return to jobs. Suhaib Sameh, a university student who had been stranded in Gaza says, “I started to feel as if I am living in a nightmare.”
Isra Saleh El-Namy talks with Gaza families who are finally having their homes rebuilt after being destroyed by Israel over a year ago. “The news is good, but politics here taught us to wait for deeds before listening to ornate speeches, ” says Ahmed Qdeeh.