The Palestinian suffering in Gaza continues to persist despite assurances from the Palestinian and Egyptian sides about the expected easing of restrictions within a few weeks as Palestinians remain captive to the blockade waiting the promised breakthroughs to be realized.
The screams of children the tears of women and the repression of men is a scene seen every time the Rafah crossing is open after a long period of closure telling stories that would be engraved on rocks so as not to forget the history of Gaza and its people.
Since the early hours of the morning hundreds of passengers began to arrive at the waiting hall at the Rafah crossing after the Egyptian authorities declared the opening of the crossing for stranded people in both directions for two days starting Wednesday 16/8/2017.
Similar stories
The stories are similar. They speak of people who were deprived of their right to live and travel freely because of unjust policies imposed by enemies and friends.
Niveen Abu Azab sits on her bag taking a rest after hours of waiting to hear her name to be allowed to leave the Strip to the United Arab Emirates.
Next to Abu Azab sit her two children who are eager to see their father who is waiting for them in the UAE after more than a year of separation. They were stuck inside the Gaza Strip after making a family visit to their relatives.
Mother Um Ahmad has been waiting to travel for about six months after her visa has expired. She renewed it more than three times which cost her efforts and money.
Fading dreams
Um Muhammad Hammad’s story is similar to that of Um Ahmed. The fate of her daughter depends on the ‘black gate’ so that she could join her husband in the UAE following their engagement.
Four years ago Um Muhammad returned to the Gaza Strip with her four kids to complete their university education in Gaza because of the high cost of studying in the UAE to be surprised by the bitter and difficult reality in Gaza.
Speaking of her story with the Rafah crossing she told the PIC reporter “My daughter was engaged two years ago and postponed her wedding more than three times because of the difficult conditions of the crossing.”
The fate of young Hammad depends on the gates of the crossing. She hopes that the crossing will be permanently open to alleviate the crisis and allow the travel of the big number of people waiting to travel which is estimated at 30000 passengers by the Ministry of Interior in Gaza.
Open the Rafah crossing
On his wheelchair the 50-year-old Abu Mohammed Al-Attar is waiting for his turn to travel to complete his treatment in Egypt.
Al-Attar suffered a stroke seven months ago and lost his ability to move. He is waiting to be allowed to have treatment after he received a medical referral to Egypt’s hospitals.
He called on the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing permanently and to take into account the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip saying: “We have affection and appreciation for our brotherly people in Egypt. We hope that communication channels continue to exist between Gaza and Egypt so that the suffering of our people comes to an end.”
