More than a year has passed since Israel attacked the Gaza Strip and destroyed tens of thousands of homes businesses and schools, killing more than 2,200 people, mostly civilians and including nearly 500 children. Israel continues to block the passage of building supplies, food and funds into the Gaza Strip, even though Israeli propagandists continue to insist that after they withdrew from Gaza, Palestinians did nothing to improve the land
By Mohammed Asad
Gaza War Photographer Mohammed Asad
Nearly a half million Palestinian children living in the Israeli destruction of the Gaza Strip returned to schools this week.
Many of the schools have been completely destroyed by Israel’s terrorism, missile fire and assaults in its latest war last year, and they remain in shambles. Other buildings are partially destroyed and children and teachers do their best to manage classes despite the wreckage.
The living conditions of the Gaza Strip continue to worsen as little of the billions in international aide has made it into the Gaza Strip past the total Israeli embargo. Israel claims that it withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but in fact it continues to surround the Gaza with an oppressive military chokehold, controlling and blocking anything from entering or leaving the land mass.
Many have called Gaza an “outdoor prison” that Israel controls and yet points to as evidence that the Palestinians failed to build anything as a result of their “withdrawal.” The Gaza is used as “proof” by Israel to justify Israel’s continued occupation of Jerusalem and the West Bank, which racists call “Judea and Samaria,” a denial of Palestinian existence by Israel.
Many of the students are unable to purchase school supplies because of the lack of income by their families, and staggering unemployment caused by Israel’s embargo.
Gaza Students attend what remains of their schools this week amid the rubble and disarray. Photos copyright (C) 2015 Mohammed Asad. All Rights reserved. Photos may be reproduced with proper credit to Mohammed Asad and the Arab Daily News A student walks past destroyed businesses and homes on the way to a destroyed school building for the first day of classes in the Gaza Strip. Copyright (C) 2015 Mohammed Asad. All Rights reserved. Photos may be reproduced with proper credit to Mohammed Asad and the Arab Daily News Gaza Children climb over Israeli caused destruction to begin the school year. Copyright (C) 2015 Mohammed Asad. All Rights reserved. Photos may be reproduced with proper credit to Mohammed Asad and the Arab Daily News Children gather in uniforms at the start of school in the playground of one school. Copyright (C) 2015 Mohammed Asad. All Rights reserved. Photos may be reproduced with proper credit to Mohammed Asad and the Arab Daily News
Children sit attentively in almost barren classrooms during the first day of school. Supplies have been blocked by Israel’s oppressive embargo. Copyright (C) 2015 Mohammed Asad. All Rights reserved. Photos may be reproduced with proper credit to Mohammed Asad and the Arab Daily News
photographer Mohammed Asad's photo of Dalia Khalifa won an award in March 2015 at a competition organised by the UN.
'Unbreakable' - is the photo of 9yr old Dalia Khalifa, taken at Al-Shifa Hospital on Aug 9th, 2014. Dalia was badly injured in an Israeli air strike during Operation 'Protective Edge'.
'Unbreakable' is the Grand Jury Winner in the photography competition, organised by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Middle East and North Africa (UN OCHA).
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Mohammed Asad's home in Shujaiyya was destroyed by Israeli missiles, mortars and tank fire on Friday August 1, 2014 while he was documenting the Israeli massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip. He is now living in temporary housing as he scrambles to find Internet access to share his photographs when possible.]
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