What Is Life Like for Palestinians in Gaza? | Unpacked

Summary

The video script details the dire living conditions in Gaza, exacerbated by Hamas' rule and the Israeli-Egyptian blockade. It explores Gaza's history, from Israeli occupation to Hamas' rise to power, and the group's impact on civilians. It also discusses the challenges faced by Gazans, including lack of resources, Hamas' corruption and violence, and the group's prioritization of terrorism over civilian welfare. The script concludes with a call for peace and a better future for Gazans.

Takeaways

• 📢 Gaza has been facing a humanitarian crisis with a rising death toll and a lack of basic necessities like food and water.
• 💥 Israel's military actions, including airstrikes, have led to a significant number of civilian casualties and displacements.
• 🏗️ The Gaza Strip has a complex history, with periods of Egyptian and Israeli control influencing its current situation.
• 🚫 The First Intifada was a response to Israeli military rule and the growth of Israeli settlements, leading to the rise of Hamas.
• 🏛️ The Oslo Accords were intended to bring peace but instead led to increased tensions and the rise of corruption within the Palestinian National Authority.
• 🛑 Israel's unilateral disengagement from Gaza in 2005 did not improve the situation and led to Hamas taking control after winning the Palestinian elections.
• 🚨 Hamas has been openly hostile towards Israel and has been accused of misusing resources that could have been used for civilian needs.
• 🚧 The blockade by Israel and Egypt has had severe economic and social impacts on Gaza, including high unemployment and a lack of basic services.
• 💸 Corruption within Hamas has led to the misuse of international aid, with funds being diverted to military purposes and the personal enrichment of Hamas leaders.
• 🌍 Despite the hardships, there are Gazans who dream of a better future with freedom, peace, and prosperity.

Q & A

What is the historical context of the Gaza Strip mentioned in the script?

The script mentions the Israeli War of Independence, where Israel fought off five Arab armies and the Gaza Strip went to Egypt. Later, after another war, Gaza's Palestinians came under Israeli rule, which led to the establishment of Israeli settlements and eventually the First Intifada.

What is the significance of the First Intifada mentioned in the script?

The First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against Israeli military rule, economic dependence, and the growth of Israeli settlements. It was a period of significant tension and violence that led to the formation of Hamas.

Why was the Oslo Accords significant in the context of Gaza?

The Oslo Accords were peace agreements that gave the Palestinian people some measure of autonomy for the first time. It led to the creation of the Palestinian National Authority, which governed Gaza and parts of the West Bank.

What were the two major problems with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) as mentioned in the script?

The script highlights the PNA's legendary corruption and their less than spotless record on terrorism as the two major problems.

How did the Second Intifada impact Israelis and Palestinians?

The Second Intifada led to horrific trauma for both Israelis and Palestinians, with constant terror attacks in Israel and Israeli reprisals causing significant loss of life on the Palestinian side.

Why did Israel decide to withdraw from Gaza as described in the script?

Israel decided to withdraw unilaterally from Gaza due to concerns over its security situation and international reputation. This decision led to the complete withdrawal of Israeli citizens from the Gaza Strip by mid-September 2005.

What was the outcome of the Palestinian elections after Israel's withdrawal from Gaza?

After Israel's withdrawal, Hamas won the majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament, partly because Palestinians were tired of Fatah's corruption and appreciated Hamas' organizational strength and social services.

How has Hamas' rule affected the daily life of Gazans according to the script?

Hamas' rule has led to a blockade by Israel and Egypt, economic hardship, lack of basic necessities, and a damaged infrastructure. Additionally, Hamas has been accused of misusing international aid and suppressing dissent.

What role do the tunnels in Gaza play as described in the script?

The tunnels in Gaza are used for smuggling a variety of goods, including weapons and fuel. They are a significant part of the Gazan economy but also contribute to the region's instability.

How does the script describe the situation of women and the LGBTQ community under Hamas rule in Gaza?

The script describes a very restrictive environment for women and the LGBTQ community under Hamas rule, with strict dress codes, gender segregation in schools, and severe repression, including the use of undercover operatives to lure gay men.

What are the aspirations of young Palestinians for Gaza as mentioned in the script?

Young Palestinians aspire for a government that protects freedom of religion, to build up Gaza into a prosperous region, and to live in peace with their neighbors.

Outlines

00:00

📢 Gaza Crisis Overview

The paragraph discusses the dire situation in Gaza, with a rising death toll and a lack of basic necessities like food and water. It highlights Israel's airstrikes and the civilian exodus. The script provides historical context, starting with the Israeli War of Independence, the Six-Day War, and the First Intifada. It introduces Hamas, an Islamist group born out of the chaos, and contrasts the economic opportunities of the 1980s with the current hardships. The Oslo Accords and the Second Intifada are mentioned, along with Israel's military responses and the rise of Hamas to power.

05:03

🏠 Life After Israeli Withdrawal

This section details the aftermath of Israel's decision to withdraw from Gaza, leading to Fatah's short-lived governance and Hamas' eventual takeover after winning the elections. It discusses Hamas' extreme views against Israel and Jews, the blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt, and the economic struggles that followed. The paragraph also covers Hamas' use of tunnels for smuggling and their impact on Gaza's economy and infrastructure, as well as their prioritization of military capabilities over civilian needs.

10:31

💧 Water Crisis and Infrastructure

The paragraph focuses on Gaza's water crisis, with 96% of the water undrinkable due to pollution and depletion. It describes the lack of infrastructure for water treatment and how Hamas has chosen to use resources for military purposes instead of addressing these urgent needs. The paragraph also discusses the damage to Gaza's infrastructure due to Israeli airstrikes and how Hamas has converted water pipes into weapons, using materials donated by the EU.

16:05

🗣️ Suppression and Social Unrest

This section exposes the oppressive nature of Hamas' rule, including the lack of free speech, criticism, and the harsh treatment of protestors. It highlights the economic exploitation by Hamas, with taxes used for personal gain rather than public services. The paragraph also touches on the difficult living conditions for women, LGBTQ individuals, and the Christian minority under Hamas' rule, as well as the restrictions on social life and the enforcement of strict Islamic law.

21:40

🕍 Hopes for a Better Future

The final paragraph discusses the aspirations of young Palestinians for a government that values freedom and peace. It contrasts the current situation with the potential for a better future if Hamas were to be removed. The script emphasizes the desire for a peaceful coexistence with neighbors and the tragic reality that Gaza's problems stem from its corrupt and totalitarian government. It concludes with a message of hope and a desire for friendship between Israelis and Gazans.

Keywords

💡Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Egypt and Israel. In the video, it is depicted as a place of conflict and hardship, with a complex history involving wars, blockades, and political struggles. The Gaza Strip is central to the video's narrative, illustrating the living conditions and political dynamics that have led to the current crisis.

💡Intifada

Intifada refers to the Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation, with the First Intifada occurring in the late 1980s and the Second Intifada in the early 2000s. The term is used in the video to describe periods of heightened tension and violence, reflecting the ongoing struggle for Palestinian autonomy and the resistance against Israeli military presence.

💡Hamas

Hamas is an Islamist political organization and militant group that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. The video discusses Hamas extensively, highlighting its role in exacerbating the crisis in Gaza through its militant actions, governance style, and the impact on the civilian population. Hamas' stance against Israel and its internal policies are central to understanding the current situation in Gaza.

💡Blockade

The blockade refers to the restrictions on the movement of goods and people to and from the Gaza Strip, imposed by Israel and Egypt. The video explains how the blockade has led to severe economic and humanitarian crises in Gaza, with limited access to basic necessities like food, water, and medical supplies.

💡Airstrikes

Airstrikes are attacks conducted by military aircraft, which, in the context of the video, are carried out by Israel in response to rocket attacks from Gaza. The script describes how these airstrikes have led to significant destruction of infrastructure and civilian casualties, shaping the ongoing conflict.

💡Settlements

Settlements are communities established by Israeli citizens in the West Bank and Gaza. The video mentions settlements as a source of tension, as they are often seen as a violation of international law and a barrier to peace due to their impact on Palestinian life and territorial claims.

💡Oslo Accords

The Oslo Accords were a set of agreements between Israel and the Palestinians in the 1990s aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The video refers to these accords as a moment of hope that ultimately failed to deliver on its promises, leading to further unrest and the Second Intifada.

💡Fatah

Fatah is a Palestinian political party that has historically been a significant player in Palestinian politics, often in opposition to Hamas. The script discusses Fatah's role in the Palestinian Authority and how its governance, marred by corruption and violence, contributed to the rise of Hamas.

💡Tunnels

Tunnels are underground passages used for various purposes in Gaza, including smuggling goods and weapons. The video describes how these tunnels have been a lifeline for Gaza's economy and a means for Hamas to acquire resources despite the blockade, but also highlights the human cost and the risks associated with their construction and use.

💡Humanitarian Crisis

A humanitarian crisis is a situation that exists when people are unable to meet their basic human needs, such as food, water, and healthcare. The video script describes the dire living conditions in Gaza, including lack of clean water, electricity, and adequate healthcare, as a result of the ongoing conflict and blockade.

💡Corruption

Corruption is the dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, often for personal gain. In the context of the video, corruption within the Palestinian Authority and Hamas is highlighted as a significant issue that has contributed to the suffering of the people in Gaza, as resources meant for public welfare are misused.

Highlights

Gaza faces ongoing conflict with death tolls rising and a severe lack of food and water.

Israel conducts airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, causing civilian casualties and displacement.

Thousands of Palestinians are stuck at the Rafah gate, unable to leave the area.

Gaza was already a difficult place to live even before the recent war, highlighting longstanding issues.

The Gaza Strip's history includes periods of Egyptian and Israeli rule, influencing its current situation.

The First Intifada was a response to Israeli military rule and the growth of Israeli settlements.

Hamas emerged from the First Intifada, adopting violent resistance against Israel.

The Oslo Accords aimed to bring peace but instead led to increased tensions and the Second Intifada.

Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 did not improve the security situation.

Hamas won the Palestinian elections in 2006 due to public dissatisfaction with Fatah's corruption.

Since 2007, Hamas has controlled Gaza, imposing strict rules and causing suffering for its citizens.

Hamas is accused of diverting international aid for its own purposes, neglecting the needs of Gazans.

Gaza's infrastructure is severely damaged due to constant conflict, including lack of clean water.

Hamas has been using resources meant for civilian needs, such as water pipes, to make weapons.

Gazans live under harsh conditions with limited access to basic necessities and no bomb shelters.

Hamas enforces strict rules and suppresses dissent, including the arrest and torture of peace activists.

The situation in Gaza is dire for women, LGBTQ individuals, and the small Christian minority.

Despite the hardships, some Gazans still hope for a future with a government that allows for freedom and peace.

The root of Gaza's problems is identified as its corrupt and totalitarian government, not just external factors.

There is a desire among some Gazans for a future where they can live peacefully with their neighbors.

Transcripts

- Gaza has been in the news lately,

and the broadcasts aren't pretty.

- The death toll rises by the hour.

- Hundreds of thousands of people

who don't have enough food and water.

- Israel has been pounding the Strip

with airstrikes.

Thousands of civilians have been killed.

Thousands more have fled their homes,

but there's no way out.

- Thousands of Palestinians

caught in a bottleneck at the Rafah gate.

- Even before this most recent war,

Gaza was a difficult place to live,

and that's the understatement of the century.

So, let's talk about it. What's it like to live in Gaza?

(tense music)

Look, I'm not Palestinian and I don't live in Gaza,

but today, you'll hear from people who do

and their perspective isn't what you might expect.

To understand it though,

we have to give a very quick crash course on the Gaza Strip.

the Israeli War of Independence.

Israel fights off five Arab armies

and comes out well, still existing,

which was a pretty significant victory.

This is Israel after the war ends.

Jordan conquered the West Bank in East Jerusalem,

and the Gaza Strip went to Egypt.

Then came the war that changed everything.

Yet again, Israel fought multiple Arab armies,

and this time, the Jewish state

came out with four times as much land as before.

This was the start

of what some referred to as the occupation.

Gaza's 400,000 Palestinians were now under Israeli rule.

With the explicit encouragement of the Israeli government,

Israeli citizens began building communities

also called settlements in the West Bank in Gaza.

After 20 years of Israeli rule, tensions in the West Bank

and Gaza had reached a boiling point.

For some Palestinians, it was the combination

of Israeli military rule, economic dependence on Israel,

and the growth of Israeli settlements.

For others, it was Israel's mere existence

that was the problem.

The solution was the First Intifada or uprising.

(metal clanks)

Amid the chaos and violence,

a new Islamist group was born.

They called themselves Hamas,

an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement.

And their so-called resistance was extremely violent.

But not everybody in Gaza supported Hamas.

- Arab workers board trucks

that will take them across the military frontier

to their jobs in Israel.

This is a favorite moment for Arab extremists to attack.

- Economic dependence on Israel

was one of the many reasons for the Intifada.

But today, many Palestinians

look back at the '80s with something like nostalgia.

- I don't wanna romanticize

what life was like for Gazans under Israeli military rule,

and I definitely am not suggesting a return

to that highly unsustainable model.

But there was no denying that Palestinians

in Gaza experienced far greater upward mobility

and freedom of movement in the 1980s than they do today.

Don't take it from me, take it from Halil,

who spoke candidly about how life and Gaza used to be.

- But that sliver of mutual understanding

and respect didn't last.

The Oslo Accords, these controversial peace agreements

between Israel and the Palestinians

gave the Palestinian people some measure of autonomy

for the first time, well, ever.

Gaza and parts of the West Bank

were now governed by the Palestinian National Authority,

the newly created more

or less secular Palestinian government led by Yasser Arafat.

But the promise of the peace process never materialized.

And there were two major problems

with the PA and its ruling political party, Fatah.

The first was their legendary corruption.

Spoiler, this is important.

And the second was their, shall we say,

less than spotless record on terrorism,

which brings me to the Second Intifada.

For the next five years,

Israelis and Palestinians alike endured horrific trauma.

Near constant terror attacks in Israel

left over 1,000 Israelis dead

and many more permanently injured.

On the Palestinian side,

Israeli reprisals claimed 5,000 lives.

From 2002 to 2005, the IDF reentered the West Bank

and parts of Gaza in an effort to crack down on terror.

By 2005, Ariel Sharon was getting worried.

Israel's security situation wasn't good,

and its international reputation was suffering too.

So, Sharon made the highly controversial decision

to unilaterally withdraw all Israeli citizens from Gaza.

The Jewish connection to Gaza is ancient and enduring.

Gaza City even had a Jewish quarter,

and the Jews of Gush Katif didn't want to leave their homes.

But the Israeli army didn't take no for an answer.

By mid-September, not a single Israeli remained in Gaza.

Fatah was now in charge, but not for long.

As Palestinians prepared to vote,

many had one priority, get rid of the corruption.

- Key issues for the voters.

On the one hand, inefficiency

and corruption under the long ruling Fatah party.

And on the other, a desire for change

and the perception that Hamas

has the organizational strength

to deliver social services and govern transparently.

- Neither Israel nor the US

who were watching very closely expected Fatah to lose.

But that's exactly what happened.

When Fatah, with the help of the US,

attempted to retake control by force,

Hamas showed their teeth,

and they've been ruling Gaza ever since.

So, since 2007, Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip.

Now, they've never been coy

about their feelings on Israel and the Jewish People.

Zionists wanna take over the world.

Zionists are behind the drug trade and alcoholism.

Zionists started the French and communist revolutions.

But they're not just anti-Zionist.

They're openly antisemitic,

because their Charter

also says things like Jews hate Muslims,

Jews are warmongers, et cetera, et cetera.

But let's be honest, Hamas didn't win a majority

of seats in the Palestinian parliament

just because they're rabid antisemites, no.

Hamas won because Palestinians were sick and tired

of Fatah's legendary corruption.

Party leaders grew rich off international aid money

while the average Palestinian struggled to eke out a living.

In contrast, Hamas' spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin,

had spent nearly his whole life

building up Gaza's infrastructure,

before he turned to terrorism that is.

The people of Gaza appreciated the schools

and mosques and clinics that Hamas built,

and many appreciated Hamas' strict interpretation of Islam.

But if Gaza's were hoping for a better future under Hamas,

they were severely misled.

Gaza shares a border with Israel and Egypt,

both of whom immediately closed their borders

after Hamas' coup.

You can understand why Israel isn't keen to live next door

to a government that's pledged to its destruction.

What's Egypt's beef with Hamas?

Well, Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood,

an Islamist group that was deeply unpopular

with the Egyptian government.

So, it's 2007. Gaza's neighbors have imposed a blockade.

Many Gazans who had worked within Israel

now found themselves unemployed

or facing long lines at the border crossing.

Travel out of Gaza significantly reduced.

And to prevent Hamas

from building up its terrorist infrastructure,

both Egypt and Israel either denied

or limited certain goods

and services like fuel or electricity.

The thinking went we'll deny Hamas the means

to confiscate supplies for terrorist purposes.

And as life in Gaza becomes tougher,

maybe Gazans will even overthrow their government.

But that's not what happened.

Though their citizens suffered terribly,

Hamas wasn't deterred by little blockade.

They pounded Israel south with rockets,

and every time they did so, Israel tightened its blockade.

But if Israel and Egypt were inspecting everything

that entered Gaza, how is it possible

for Hamas to import weapons and fuel?

It's a good question with a lot of answers.

The first is that in 2008,

Hamas blew up parts

of the fence that separates it from Egypt.

And though the Egyptian government really didn't like Hamas,

the Egyptian people supported their cause.

So, the government temporarily turned a blind eye

to the breaches in the fence.

But Hamas didn't rely solely

on the Egyptian government's inconsistent policies.

They had an ace up their sleeve,

smuggling tunnels, cartel style.

- So, we're currently deep, deep underground

somewhere in the Gaza Strip.

- The tunnels are both sophisticated

and highly dangerous.

Just ask the children that Hamas uses to build them.

18-year-old Mohammed began digging tunnels

for Hamas when he was just 14.

- While you are digging,

the tunnel might collapse at any time and kill you.

- But many Gazans can't afford

to turn down work opportunities.

And the tunnels

were an important part of the Gazan economy.

They brought all sorts of things into the Strip,

luxury cars from Libya,

agricultural tools, rocket launchers, hostages.

The IDF estimates that each tunnel cost $3 million,

including roughly 350 truckloads of building supplies.

Multiply that by miles of tunnels

and you're looking at a lot of money in supplies

that could have been used for, well, anything else.

But Hamas isn't interested in bettering Gaza.

- It gets worse. Infrastructure in Gaza is a mess.

Gaza has one independent source of fresh water,

an aquifer that has been polluted

and depleted to the extent

that 96% of its water is now undrinkable.

And Gaza doesn't have sufficient infrastructure

to purify, desalinate, and filter their water.

This is partly due to Hamas' constant wars with Israel.

Hamas' rocket barrages

have triggered a significant military response,

and the Israeli airstrikes of 2009, 2014, 2021,

and 2023 have damaged much of Gaza's infrastructure.

But rather than rebuild or invest in Gaza's urgent water

and sanitation needs, Hamas has chosen instead

to further destroy their limited infrastructure,

turning water pipes into weapons against Israel.

- The Palestinian group, Hamas,

has released footage showing an end-to-end process

of making rockets from water pipes.

What's particularly shocking

is that these pipes are courtesy of donations from the EU.

Europe spent $100 million of taxpayers' money

on 30 miles of water pipes in Gaza and Palestine.

These steel pipes

are now being excavated for a sinister use.

- This isn't even a secret.

Hamas literally filmed this footage themselves.

The average Gazan lives on less than $13 a day

and lacks sufficient water,

electricity, sanitation, facilities, and food.

They have no bomb shelters, nowhere to run.

- Gazan see exactly what Hamas chooses to do

with the money and supplies that enter their home,

and they're sick of it.

But Hamas goes a step further

than just confiscating supplies, because like the mafia,

Hamas forces businesses to cough up protection money.

Though the only threat as well, Hamas.

- But Hamas doesn't use these taxes

to say, build infrastructure.

In fact, in an utterly bonkers interview,

Hamas even insisted that it's the international community,

not the local government

that is responsible for Gazan civilians.

- You see, Hamas is busy with other things like terrorism

or funding their own extravagant lifestyles.

This is Hamas' political chief, Ismail Haniyeh.

He was born in Gaza while it was still occupied by Egypt.

Today, he lives in Qatar,

though he owns multiple lavish properties

on the Gazan coast, and he's done very well for himself.

But his fortune looks like a pittance

compared to his predecessors.

Khaled Mashal's net worth

is estimated to be between 2 and $5 billion.

So, no, it's not surprising

that ordinary people in Gaza are sick of being exploited.

But here's what's surprising.

The Hamas terrorists

who poured into southern Israel on October 7th

had plenty of practice killing civilians,

because they've done it to their own.

We knew they were corrupt.

We knew they cracked down on protests.

We knew that roughly 15%

of rockets fired at Israel actually fall short,

killing innocent civilians within Gaza.

But what many didn't know

is how bad things were for the average Gazan.

How Hamas executes people in front of their families.

- Why weren't there mass protests

when Hamas police killed a one-year-old?

Why didn't this family speak out?

Because Hamas, like other corrupt autocracies,

has very little tolerance for free speech or criticism.

Finally, in March of 2019, young Gazans took to social media

and the streets under the slogan, we want to live.

They weren't addressing Israel.

They were addressing Hamas,

which has strangled their economic and social prospects.

- As Hamas security forces

violently broke up a surprisingly large protest

against Hamas rule within Gaza,

hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza

were protesting the rise in cost of living

and the worsening humanitarian conditions.

Many Palestinians were asking

why they were not seeing the direct benefits

of the millions of dollars

that Hamas has been getting from Qatar.

Hamas beat up some of those protestors. They used batons.

They fired live ammunition

in the air to break up the crowds.

- It's forbidden to do a lot of things in Gaza,

like report transparently.

- Or to be anti-war.

- Or even worse, be pro-peace.

Gazan peace activists like Rami Aman

get arrested, tortured, and silenced.

Hamas told him he could leave jail on one condition.

He had to divorce his new wife, who he loved deeply.

He held that for months.

But Hamas got to his wife.

Tearfully, she told him she wanted the divorce.

He gave in, and now he's fighting for a way

to get back to the woman he loves.

But love in Gaza is complicated.

Hamas has some opinions

on how people should court one another.

For one, LGBTQ Palestinians have to live in secret.

Undercover Hamas operatives lure gay men

with fake social media profiles.

- Though sex between men is criminalized,

LGBTQ women have an even tougher time meeting one another,

because the Islamist regime has very strict rules for women,

like what they wear

or where they go, or who they answer to.

It's very, very difficult to live freely as a woman in Gaza.

Under Hamas law, schools are segregated by gender,

and girls over nine

aren't even allowed to have male teachers.

Women aren't allowed on the bikes

and scooters that people

in the densely packed enclave use to get around.

Polygamy is strongly encouraged.

Armed Hamas operatives violently enforce dress codes,

even demanding that business owners

dress their mannequins modestly.

It's a bit difficult for merchants who sell, say underwear,

but Gazans are tired

of paying the price for Hamas' decisions.

- That is how much the people of Gaza hate their government,

because it's not just women

and young people who are terribly repressed in Gaza.

The enclave's tiny Christian minority

has found itself in Hamas' crosshairs too.

Hamas' Charter emphasizes they have no beef

with Christianity as long as Christians don't fight them.

And the terrorist group has made efforts

to approach Gaza's Christian minority.

But in practice, Gazan Christians are disappearing.

According to one Christian in Gaza,

when he got to university,

the first thing people ask you,

teachers, students, is are you Christian?

But invasive questions are one thing, violence is another.

And violence has haunted Gaza's only Christian bookstore.

Arson, pipe bombs, threats, beatings.

Somehow, Hamas authorities

were never able to catch the perpetrators,

not even after they kidnapped, tortured,

and murdered the bookstore's beloved proprietor, Rami Ayyad.

In 2007, Gaza was home to roughly 3,500 Christians.

Since then, more than 2/3 have fled.

But today, getting out of Gaza isn't really an option.

In the wake of the October 7th massacre,

Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip

with airstrikes trying to root out Hamas.

Though the army begged Gaza's civilians to flee south,

those who tried to flee found themselves

turned right back around by Hamas who forbade them to leave.

(Gaza resident 6 speaks in foreign language)

- There was a lot of death in Gaza, too much of it.

The Israeli government has promised

that the war will continue

until Hamas surrenders or is destroyed.

And then what?

What happens the day after the war

if Hamas is finally toppled?

Some young Palestinians have ideas.

They want a government

that protects freedom of or from religion.

- They wanna build up Gaza

into the jewel of the Middle East.

- They wanna live in peace with their neighbors.

- Above all, they just want to live.

- There is no doubt that the long Israeli

and Egyptian blockades

and Israeli airstrikes have brought misery to Gaza.

But the root of all of its problems lies in its corrupt,

totalitarian, fundamentalist government.

The innocent people in Gaza deserve better,

and it is a tragedy that their leaders

are too attached to their own power, corruption,

and violence to let their people live.

So, if anyone from Gaza

is watching this somehow, please know this.

I'm sitting here in Israel with an Israeli crew.

We don't want a war with you.

We wish so much that you weren't suffering,

but we cannot wait for the day that we get to meet you.

Not as soldiers, not as hostages,

not as activists separated by a wall, but as friends.