Biet -Lahyia

We asked Abu Khaled if he found what he was looking for ? “As you can see I am empty handed there is nothing to buy for me.Everything is so expensive, I got 600 Shekel with me to buy clothes for my 6 children,it means I can spend 100 Shekel for each one of them, but it is not enough, I found out, I need more money to buy the children good clothes for the winter.”

Gaza Market

Shekel has became very hard to find on Gaza Strip, so we asked him... “ you got Shekel, how come you have Shekels” ?Abu Khaled said he has collected and saved Shekel, aware and somewhat prepared for a coming situation currency crisis on the Gaza Strip money market....“.I believe I am the wealthy one here,who got my hands on all these money..600 Shekel…he said with a bitter smile..”

Dr.Atef Edwan, one of Hamas Legislative members, said that the Israeli government has caused the currency problem.."The Israeli manipulation with the currency, adding an additional level of problem to Gaza residents,a currency blockade ,which is increasing the siege against Gaza Strip and its residents.Another problem is caused by the traders whom collect Shekel to exchange goods with the Israelis, and the Israelis demand cash money for the goods...cash money we do not have access to.."

Ma'mon abu Shahla, the head manager of the Bank of Palestine, who were participating in the emergency meeting with Hamas, said that – “During the last month the Palestine Bank have faced big problems in how to solve the payments, the salaries to our employees.Normally we pay out 140 Million Shekel in monthly salaries, today we have 70 million Shekel,which means we have only half of the amount needed.".

Mohamad Jad-Allah representing the Ministry of Finance, of the Hamas Goverment suggest a change of the Shekel currency into Egyptian Pounds, but he noted,it require the approval of the Egyptian Government.Such an exchange would boast the Palestinian Economy. Jamal Nassar, a Hamas's Legislative Council member said: "The currency crisis in Gaza Strip is a part of our political problems, which can only be solved if all party's are seriously involved in working it out together.”

Jabalayia

In Jabalayia Refuge Camp, we meet with Hassan Sa'ed, a teenager working part time in a Beauty & Perfume Shop, he tell us, that he think one of the solutions is to make Gaza a commercial tourist zone, that will attract the Egyptians on the other side of the border. – “It is not a problem to get into Gaza, we have the tunnels,you know...Egyptian Pounds will help us solve our currency problem” he said with a smile...

At the Jabalyia market we asked some of the residents shopping around, what are the price tags on children clothes.One woman said, " Really, I am going crazy,I can not believe it. I am looking to buy clothes for my children, but I need at least 500 Shekel ! A skirt is 40 Shekels and a pair of pants are 70 Shekels.I will have to return back home to the children, and celebrate the Eid without new clothes for them.

Biet -Lahyia

In the Biet-Lahyia project, in the Barber Shop, Basil Abu Jarad, the barber is busy cutting the hair on a customer,he said – “ I am a barber and I face a lot of problems in my salon everyday, because of the lack of Shekel. We asked him what he think of Hamas proposal, regarding converting the Israeli Shekels to Egyptian Pounds. Abu Jarad said. he believe Euro, even Yen is OK, “ We just need to move on with our lives. I think its too long gone and more then enough, these internal divisions, we need to solve not only the problem with the Israeli Shekel, but solve other mounting problems as well, before it is too late."

Photo By Islam Kalloub