So, I am back in Gaza again. This morning, I drove down to the Eretz crossing (between Israel and Gaza) together with our boss Tom and our IT-specialist Amjad. As always, I was carrying my backpack full of camera- and computer equipment. But this time I also carried a second, much larger backpack weighed by our new video-conferencing system. And a box of special powder milk for sick children.

 Since I normally comes trough the Israeli check here faster than Tom, and probably faster than Amjad too, I had to be the mule, carrying it all. In case they would be let through at all, at least I would make it, and the important goods.

 

Sure enough, I passed the Israeli control in less than an hour, while it took the other more than two hours, despite them having all necessary permits.

Afterwards, while we were walking through the completely devastated no-mans-land in between the Israeli terminal and the Palestinian checkpoint, the Israelis started to shoot. Luckily, it was only warning shots, and it was not about us, but about a man on his way towards the Israeli side. Wisely, he stopped, and after some more warning shots from the Israeli’s, he turned back into Gaza. We kept walking to get out of the area.

 

Except from this incident, it is nice to be back. You learn so much just by being here and talking to people. In the afternoon, I helped Amjad to install the very fancy video conferencing system. This will allow our staff in Gaza City, Hebron, Nablus and Jerusalem to communicate in a much better way, despite being stuck behind walls and checkpoints.

 

Afterwards, we checked in at the lovely Al Deira hotel just by the sea (the same hotel as last time) and then had dinner on their terrace with some fascinating people, including the mayor of Gaza. The discussions were extremely interesting to listen to. Of course the subject was about the situation in Gaza - what is happening, what might happen, will there be a war etc. etc. Unfortunately, there is now good news to be had, only different alternatives of continuous decline and destabilization. Nevertheless, it is rewarding to listen to these men and women who try to do the best out of the situation. And the food was good, as always.