Joy filled Lama’s heart when her grandfather decided to take her to the eastern border area of Gaza City where a new park with a children’s playground has been set up near the fence separating the besieged Gaza Strip from the Palestinian territories occupied since 1948.
The Higher National Committee of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege has opened the park in an effort to bring life back to the eastern border areas of the Gaza Strip.
Joy
Lama’s grandfather Mohammed Farroukh who takes part in the Great March of Return protests every week expressed his joy to the PIC reporter at the opening of the Return Park.
Farrouk who lives in al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza and who is originally from al-Majdal village in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1948 said “Our grandchildren are here to remember the hometowns from which their grandparents were expelled and to defend their right to return.”
A father of two children who were having fun in the park’s playground told the PIC reporter that he is extremely happy with the new project which despite the humble conditions has succeeded in drawing a smile on his children’s faces.
He thanked the Higher National Committee for the Great March of Return for their efforts and said “This is a new achievement that will help preserve the right to return and help keep the Great March of Return protests peaceful.”
New life
The Return Park has brought a new life to the eastern area of Gaza City and has been described as one of the most important achievements of the Great March of Return.
Haitham Abu al-Ata a member of the Higher National Committee for the Great March of Return said that the park was built on 8 dunums of agricultural land and will be available for Gaza City residents.
Abu al-Ata affirmed that the park is the first of a series of projects in five main areas along the border fence.
The park opens every day and is free of charge. It has several recreational facilities a children’s playground and large green areas.
The park has been set up on a place that was used as a dump for garbage and the rubble of houses destroyed by the Israeli occupation army. It is now a place of joy.
