Corner forgotten by the world

Mavas, a corner forgotten by the world

□ Our reporter in Gaza Huang Min PG One

In two weeks, Israel will withdraw from Gaza, which has occupied for 38 years. As the date approaches, the Jewish settlement in Gush Katif has gradually become the focus of media attention all over the world. However, Mawasi, a Palestinian village that has been a neighbor of Gush Katif for nearly 38 years, and the "isolation zone" surrounded by Jewish settlements are still in a difficult situation.

In two weeks, Israel will withdraw from Gaza, which has occupied for 38 years. As the date approaches, the Jewish settlement in Gush Katif has gradually become the focus of media attention all over the world. The emotions of settlers and the joy of Palestine have also become the focus of media attention.

However, behind the dazzling spotlight, there is a little-known name-Mawasi, a Palestinian village that has been adjacent to Gush Katif for 38 years, and a "isolation zone" surrounded by Jewish settlements. Although Gush Katif sings and dances on a 5-meter-wide road, there is no water and electricity supply here in Mawasi, and there is nothing the Palestinian authorities can do about it, and the Israeli occupiers turn a blind eye to it.

This is a corner forgotten by the world. Perhaps the Mawasi people have the deepest feelings about occupation, so they have the most ardent expectations for freedom.

Heaven and earth are two worlds.

I believe that anyone who walks into Gush Cardiff will sincerely admire the wisdom, perseverance and courage of the Jewish nation to transform nature; It is also believed that anyone who walks into Mawa village deep in Gush Katif will be shocked by the difficult situation of Palestinians under occupation.

In the Jewish settlement on one side of the road, small villas with red bricks and white walls are hidden among green trees and red flowers. They are clean and tidy and pleasing to the eye. Young mothers wearing headscarves push strollers and take a nap in the shade, while older children enjoy playing in the garden not far away. On the other side of the road, Mawa Village is densely packed with simple sheds and prefabricated houses, and the garbage on the ground makes the air smell rotten. Children flying around with flies are playing with sand or mud with dirty little hands.

The seaside used to be the greatest pleasure for Mawa village people, but since the "uprising" (armed uprising) broke out in Palestine five years ago, Israel simply took the land near the sea in Mawa village and built a leisure and holiday-style settlement. As a result, the nearest seaside has moved from tens of meters to two kilometers now, and all this is still in Israel? Under the watchtower's close watch.

"The biggest problem is that no one cares about us," said Iyad, a 33-year-old villager. "Palestinian municipal services can't get through, and Israelis don't care. We can only survive on our own. " Iyed said that every household in Mawa village dug its own wells and brought its own generators. Fortunately, Mawaxi Village has fertile land, good underground water quality and sweet entrance, which is completely different from other salty water sources in Gaza. This is also the main reason why Jewish settlements choose to be around Mawa village.

It is not easy to clear customs, but it is difficult to enter customs.

Samir, 29, has not seen his father for five years. His father lives in Khan Younis, which is 1 km away. Samir was put on the forbidden list because the Israeli military involved him in "security considerations".

Five years ago, Israel cut off many passages between Mawasi and the outside world, leaving only the Tufah checkpoint. At the only checkpoint to the outside world in Mawasi, the Israeli military still set up strict security measures.

In addition, every villager must be registered in the Israeli army, and a person should be assigned a number to confirm the identity of the villager. Non-villagers are not allowed to enter the village for fear of affecting the "purity" here.

Due to Israel's strict control over entry and exit, several critically ill children died in Mawa village in the past few years without timely treatment. What's more, five years ago, a woman in labor simply gave birth to a child at a checkpoint, which was later named "checkpoint".

The reporter rushed to the residence of the "checkpoint" family, but was turned away. Neighbors said that the mother of the "checkpoint" was unwilling to be interviewed by reporters, fearing that Israeli soldiers would cause trouble to their family in the future.

Things don't go in and out smoothly.

"There are still 10 days before the ripe season of Jawafa (a local pear), and I don't know if the customs clearance will be smooth this year," Iyed said with anxiety. "Jawa hair is very expensive. If you pick it, you should sell it immediately. After two days, it will be completely broken."

Mawaxi village has fertile land, and agriculture is the pillar industry here. Jawafa is very rich in the village. The Iyad family planted about 200 trees, which is the main source of life for a big family.

The Israeli military is strict with the goods entering the customs, and only one or two daily necessities are allowed to be purchased a week, so the goods in the village grocery store are very single.

As for other electrical appliances, they are contraband in Mawasi, including cameras and mobile phones. A bunch of children in Ayaad's family were very excited when they saw the cameras and video cameras in the hands of reporters. Look at that, as if I can't wait to get into the camera and have a look.

"I'm not afraid of your jokes. Children under the age of five in the village have never been photographed, "Iyed said with a wry smile. Hearing this, the reporter was very unhappy. He immediately called all the children together and pressed the shutter desperately. Hearing the sound of "click click", the children looked very satisfied.

"Then how did this car get into the customs?" The reporter suddenly saw a car parked in the yard and asked Ayaad curiously.

"This is 1988 car. The cars in the village are all classic cars. Now, not to mention cars, even spare parts need to be coordinated with Israel before they can come in, "Iyed said. "So the most important means of transportation in the village is the donkey."

See the world and marry a wife.

When talking about the Israeli withdrawal plan from Gaza, Ayaad's face was full of excitement. He said: "The first thing after the evacuation is to take my son out to see the world."

The reporter quickly asked him where he wanted to go.

Ayaad thought for a moment and said, "Khan Younis, Gaza City."

It turns out that in Ayaad's mind, Khan Younis 1 km away is the world. On second thought, he can only take the children around Gaza, and they can't go anywhere else. Because according to Israel's unilateral action plan, it will continue to control Gaza's sea, land and air passages after withdrawing from Gaza to ensure Israel's homeland security. Life in Ayaad will only change from a small prison in Mawasi to a big prison in Gaza.

Ahmed, Iyed's 20-year-old brother, is even happier about Israel's withdrawal. He joked, "We bachelors can get married then." There are more boys than girls in the village, and girls outside are reluctant to marry here. "After the evacuation of these settlements around us, everything will be fine. We have a lot of water and are close to the sea, and many girls will be willing to marry. "

At the end of the interview, I bid farewell to the Ayaad family and promised to visit them again when I visit Gush Cardiff next time. When Iyed's 8-year-old son Fadhel sent the reporter to the door, he hesitated and watched the reporter open the door. Finally, he couldn't help saying, "Don't forget the photos next time." (photography PG One)