Two million people live in the Gaza strip. Most of them were allowed to leave the territory between Israel and Egypt. Especially the youth suffers from the lack of prospects.
In Gaza city, young people on crutches are now part of almost everyday of city image. Also, Mahmoud Abu Zer is one of them now. Still, however, he can hardly move, the wounds are still too fresh. So he spends most of his time in his sparsely furnished room in his parents ‘ house in the Al Nafaq neighborhood of Gaza city.
His legs are fixed, tie with gauze and metal rails. Two weeks ago, an Israeli sniper had him shot in both legs shot, told the 19-Year-old. Like every Friday in the last few months, he had spent the afternoon at the “fence” and stones thrown. “It was quite normal to go, then. Almost all of my friends are there,” said Abu Zer in an interview with DW.
The mass protests of the “March of return” on the border fence between Israel and the Gaza strip began almost a year ago. The protesters are demanding an end to the blockade of the Gaza strip – cut off from the sea, air and Land from the outside world.
Sees no future in Gaza: the protests against Israel wounded Mahmoud Abu Zer
Most of the young protesters have left Gaza never due to strict travel restrictions, which is justified by Israel with its security. The blockade policy of the neighboring countries of Israel and Egypt to exert pressure on the rulers in Gaza: Hamas took over in 2007, forcibly seized control of the Gaza strip from the Palestinian authority.
However, more than ten years and three wars later, the consequences of the lockdown are arrived everywhere: unemployment is still rising, electricity is a scarce commodity, the limits are for a majority of the inhabitants insurmountable. Many are trying also bitterly disappointed by the many failed Reconciliation between political rivals Hamas and Fatah. Without a political solution to the fear of a new war between Hamas militants and Israel is also always present.
Mainly young Palestinians have been demonstrating for months at the border fence to Israel of your anger
No prospects, no security
He had nothing to lose and therefore go on the Demos, says Mahmoud Abu Zer. “There is no future for us young people. I would give both legs to ensure that the Situation of my family improved.” Before the injury, he had been working temporary as an auto mechanic. But in the last five months he found a Job.
Abu Zer is just one of the many young people who are in search of work. Youth unemployment is, according to the world Bank, around 70 percent. “The workshop is always called when they needed someone. But now – it was All already over. If I want to go to the front door of our apartment, I need the help of two or three people to help me.” To continue, he can move only in a wheelchair or on crutches.
His mother had concerns when her son went to the “fence” demonstrate. “There is no work, neither for the young nor for the Old. I think some go there because you want to escape the Situation in which they live. Some might want to even be shot,” she says of the DW.
“Fire dragon” for the arch-enemy of Israel
The complicated gunshot wound of the son makes the already difficult Situation of the family. Apart from her oldest son, who works as a tailor, but hardly any customers, look for all of the children’s work. Also a one-time payment of about 87 Euro, which pays Hamas to hurt, not help for a long time.
Israel is called the demonstrations “terrorist” and accuses the Hamas to exploit the protests for their own goals. Palestinians see it as their right to demonstrate. Since March last year have been shot and killed according to the UN, and the Palestinian health Ministry, more than 180 Palestinians and over 6,000 live ammunition injured, including children, medical personnel and journalists. On the Israeli side, one soldier and several were killed. A UN report Israel’s war crimes during the Gaza protests last year, to be accused, rejected the Israeli foreign Minister Israel Katz that the report was a “theatre of the absurd”. The UN experts say in your report that the majority of the Palestinians were unarmed and “not an immediate threat.”
“It is only getting worse.”
In Gaza, the lack of understanding is growing about the difficult living conditions and the feeling to have no control over their own future. The Hamas is also under increasing pressure. Some observers see the protests as a valve, to the anger of the cushion to the inside and from its own failure to divert, to provide for the citizens.
According to world Bank estimates, 70 percent of young people in Gaza are unemployed
For others, the protest movement has become just too dangerous. “I wouldn’t go demonstrate,” says Bilal Abu Nadi. “Not because I’m not Patriotic, but because I am responsible for others.” The young Palestinian says he was lucky to find in the carpenter’s workshop of his uncle’s work after he had lost another Job.
“For me, Gaza is a beautiful place, but it has become almost impossible to live here. Particularly for young people. If the political and economic Situation does not change, then most will try to go away from here.” In the case of water pipe and coffee, he discussed with his friends about the Situation, all of which are constantly occupied. “You will feel here as the living dead,” says one of his friends. “Politicians from all sides talking a lot, but nothing has changed. It is only getting worse.”
To leave the small area is already extremely difficult. Hala Shoman has repeatedly tried in the last few years, But it has failed either to a rejected departure approval, or at a closed border crossing The 26-year-old Dentist with backup jobs in two dental practices on the water. On some days, she works as a volunteer paramedic in the protests.
Missed a doctoral scholarship because of closed borders: Hala Shoman
Because of the border crossing with Egypt is often irregular, open or closed, she missed a scholarship for a PhD in Turkey. Was just at the time the limit for several weeks closed. “This is an opportunity not to miss has me depressed for a long time. The first week I can’t eat,” she recalls in an interview with DW.
The lack of prospects of young people, Marie-Elisabeth Ingres, the head of the organization Doctors without borders in the occupied Palestinian territories knows. In one of the clinics of the organization in Gaza city is now also handled Mahmoud Abu Zer on an outpatient basis.
Most of Worry to the Physicians and nurses, bone infections, which are associated with the gunshot wounds. To treat them in Gaza, right, is due to the completely under-served health care system extremely difficult. Many of the injured are an additional challenge.
“There is now this window of time in which we the people can handle. Then we can save their limbs,” says Ingres. “If we don’t make it in the next few months, it will be too late: Many of these young people are at risk then amputations.”