The metal wall that stood between Gaza and Egypt is folded over like a piece of paper. Yesterday a group of women massed at the Rafah terminal crossing that has been sealed shut with only two exceptions of a few hours since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007.
At 2am the border was stormed and from that time on the population across the entire Gaza Strip has been thinning out as people young and old head to the border.
Why?
To get a breath of fresh air, to see something different, to take their sick to the hospital and buy food and household goods.
Two nights ago Nusseirat camp where I was visiting was out of candles and electricity had been out since the night before.
It is hard to find public transportation as taxis and buses are all heading South, just to get out.
For now electricity is back for hours at a time. Israel allowed in enough gas to restart Gaza City’s main power plant and hospitals but none for gas stations. They remain closed.
Despite the shortage, vehicles are running. Today prices to Rafah are double for a space on the back of a truck what they were for a seat in a taxi yesterday.
Escaping from this cage of boredom is being done at any price.The increased siege over the past week finally caused an explosion.
Cigarettes are down from 20 shekels to 7.
The bakeries have flour to make bread.
image 1: AP
