Q. SAKAMAKI PHOTOGRAPHY

Latest Stories: Living in Ruins

This is an aftermath story of Gaza, following the 2014 summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. The war claimed the lives of more than 2,150 Palestinians, wounded more than 100,000 and displaced an estimated 300,000 people. On the Israeli side, at least 64 soldiers were killed and six civilians died. I traveled to Gaza in the aftermath to witness the devastation for myself. I took a series of portraits of people living in the ruins of what used to be their homes. I intentionally shot them at night because my conceptual motif for this story is people who have experienced the darkness of Gaza’s devastation physically and psychologically. This is something I want to shed light on. 

Gaza is literally in darkness due to the lack of power. But the real darkness comes from the difficult conditions in which the people physically live. Due to the decades of conflict situations and the economic blockade established since 2007, people in Gaza have lived in the world’s largest detention-like facility, with more than 40 % unemployment of the 1.8 million Gaza population. That number will most likely be higher after the last summer’s war. Such devastated situations have been further intensified. The destruction of Gaza was so huge and rampant after the last war. Shelter Cluster, an international organization involved in assessing post-conflict reconstruction, says it will take 20 years for Gaza to rebuild. Indeed so many people in Gaza remain in their houses in the ruins and often in extremely dangerous conditions. 

Fatma Ibrahe Abu Mutlag, 46-year-old mother in Khan Yunis, told me, sobbing, that a huge stone, much bigger than her head, dropped from the ceiling and hit her on the day I went to meet her. Foad Yousifi Al-Zaza, a 70-year-old man in Alshjaia, said that his house sank as many as 40 centimeters in 6 weeks since the war. Despite these conditions, people still live in these homes. It is because there is no alternative space for them to move to or its too expensive to rent after the war. Virtually no one has come to help them, at least that's the way it was when I visited in October. This is why so many people are continuously living in the damaged houses or tents or shacks in the ruins at the same places as before the war.  

The use of artificial light to clearly photograph the subjects at night has also a special meaning. It, in terms of a concept, exposes the International community’s deficient response for the continuous humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Although, in the middle of October, international envoys at a donor conference in Cairo pledged about $5.4 billion in aid for Gaza, it's unlikely that people in Gaza will see the full extent of that promised money translate into immediate and actual reconstruction on the ground. This is because the import of critical rebuilding materials, such as cements and other construction supplies, to Gaza remains extremely restricted, due to Israel's fear that the militants use them to build rockets and tunnels to attack its civilians. Plus, much of the money doesn’t directly go to Gaza. Instead, it goes to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. In addition, after the last war most people in the world tend to turn a blind eye to Gaza, as many other deadly conflicts go on in other parts of the world. 

On the other hand, helping people in Gaza, it could be more than humanitarian aids. Despite the fact that Palestinians in Gaza is surely tired of war, most of them think war would break out again soon or later. The reason is not Hamas. It comes from despair, one of the darkest parts of human conditions. Most people in Gaza cannot have hope in the future, as they live in a jail-like situation. Poverty is one of the biggest root causes of war and/ or terror, as even former Israeli prime minister Simon Press says so. In addition, Israeli military strategy seemingly didn’t work on Gaza. It couldn’t eliminate Hamas, probably because of the international criticism on the unproportional military action or whatever the reason is. 

Although there are other critical issues, Gaza is now in the central concern for all actors involved in the Israeli – Palestinian conflict. Serious committing to rebuilding Gaza could bring stability in the region. It could create a great opportunity helping lead to the lasting peace between Israeli and Palestinian people. It would not only give hope to Palestinians but also consequently allay Israeli security concerns. 

I have a dream. It is that someday in the fresh morning light I can photograph the portraits of people in Gaza, who have hope. 

  • General Information: This past summer’s conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which was sparked by the June deaths of three Israeli teens in the West Bank, claimed the lives of more than 2,115 Palestinians, wounded more than 100,000 and displaced an estimated 300,000 people in Gaza. On the Israeli side, at least 64 soldiers were killed and six civilians died. The ceasefire reached on August 26, 2014. However, the extremely difficult conditions continue in Gaza. Even before the last war, Gaza was one of the poorest and most densely populated regions in the world, with more than 40 % unemployment of the 1.8 million population, due to the decades of conflicts and the economic blockade established since 2007. Such devastated situations have been further intensified after the last summer war. Shelter Cluster, an international organization involved in assessing post-conflict reconstruction, says it will take 20 years for Gaza to rebuild. In such circumstances, so many people in Gaza still live in their houses or tents in the ruins and often in extremely dangerous conditions, as there is nearly no space for them to move into or it’s too expensive to rent after the war.In this image, Sobheya Hamid Abu Mutlag, 59, poses at her home in Khan Yunis destroyed by Israeli artillery during the summer's 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. Despite the serious damage, she cannot leave, since there is no place else for her to move, or too expensive for the rent after the war.
  • Foad Yousifi Al-Zaza, 70, poses at his destroyed house due to Israeli air strike during the summer's 50 day's war between Israel and Hamas, as he still lives in (with his leg paralized wife and other family members -- his wife is seen inside the house.). Despite the fact the house is in a very dangerous condition -- it further becomes 40 cm down recently, there is no place to move, and virtually nobody has come to help yet. Al-Shjaia, Gaza, Oct 06, 2014.
  • Centering extremely exhausted mother Fatma Ibrahem Abu Mutlag, 46, her daughters -- Heba, 23, on the left, Hanadi, 19, on the right, and Hadeel, 9, on the front -- pose at their destroyed home in Khan Yunis due to Israeli airstrike and bulldozers during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. Despite the serious damage, they cannot leave, since there is no place else for them to move, or too expensive for the rent after the war. Khoza'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Oct/05/2014
  • Safia Mohamed Al-Najar, 47, and her 25 year old son Fadi Al-Najar saw their home in Khan Yunis destroyed by artillery and airstrike during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. Despite the fact the house is in the dangerous condition, they have to stay, since there is no place else for them to move, or too expensive to do so. And virtually no body has come to help them yet. The son was supposed to marry soon, but it was canceled. Khoza'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Oct/10/2014
  • Hasna El-Moghani, 65, on the left, Dina El-Moghani, 20, and her son Anas, 3, at their destroyed house due to Israeli air strike during the summer's 50 day war between Israel and Hamas, as they still have to live in. Despite the fact the house is in a very dangerous condition,  there is no place to move, and virtually nobody has come to help yet. Alshjaia, Gaza, Oct 06, 2014.
  • 26 years old mother Heba Fareed Abu Jama'a and her daughter Moha Hussein, 2 years and 3 months, pose at their destroyed house due to Israeli attack during the summer's 50 day war between Hamas. Since there is no space to move, or too expensive to do so, they have to live at a tent next to the house, with 8 other persons.Al-Zana'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza, Oct 08, 2014.
  • Assan Mohamed Najar, 30, and his 9 month pregnant and blind wife Tahreer Adnan Najar, 27, pose at their destroyed home in Khan Yunis due to Israeli artillery and airstrike during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. Despite their difficult and dangerous condition, they have to stay in the destroyed house, since there is no place else for them to move, or too expensive to do so. Khoza'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Oct/10/2014
  • Abed Raboo Mussa Abu Jama’a, 67, and his 65-year-old wife Mazuna Abu Jama’a saw their home in Khan Yunis destroyed by artillery and air strikes during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. They stay in a tent on the site of their damaged home. Despite the difficulty, they cannot leave, since there is no other place for them to move. Oct/08/2014
  • Adil Mohammed Abu Samhan, 42, and his children pose in front their destroyed home in Khan Yunis by Israeli airstrike and bulldozers during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. They have to still live at the site, since there is no place else for them to move, or too expensive for the rent after the war. Al-Zana'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Oct/03/ 2014
  • Irsan Mussa Abu Jama'a, 57, and his son Rami Irsan, 14, pose at theirdestroyed house due to Israeli attack during the summer's 50-day warbetween Israel and Hamas. Since there is no space to move, or too expensive to do so, they have to live at this site.Al-Zana'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza, Oct 08, 2014.
  • Saed Talal, 35, poses at his destroyed building due to Israeli artillery attack during the summer's 50 day war between Israel and Hamas, as he still lives in (with more than 35 people). His leg was injured by Israel's 2012 air strike. Despite the fact the building is in a very dangerous condition --, there is no place to move, and virtually nobody has come to help yet. Alshjaia, Gaza, Oct 06, 2014.
  • Soad Abd Rabo Al-Zaza, 65, despite her paralyzed leg, poses at her destroyed house due to Israeli air strike during the summer's 50 day's war between Israel and Hamas, as she still lives in (with her husband and other family members). Despite the fact the house is in a very dangerous condition -- it further becomes 40 cm down recently, there is no place to move, and virtually nobody has come to help yet. Alshjaia, Gaza, Oct 06, 2014.
  • At a shack, Salman Saliman Abu Mutlag, 80, and his wife Marym Hmdan, 67, their grand daughter Hchhtam, 24, and 1 year and half old grand-grand son Qosay pose. They still have to live at their destroyed home compound in Khan Yunis due to Israeli artilleries and bulldozers during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. They cannot leave, since there is no place else for them to move, or too expensive for the rent after the war. Khoza'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Oct/05/2014
  • Mohamed Abu Jama’a, 56, poses at his home in Khan Yunis destroyed by Israeli artillery during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. Despite the serious damage, he cannot leave, since there is no place else for him to move, or too expensive for the rent after the war. Al-Zana'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza, Oct 08, 2014.
  • 55 year old taxi driver Mohamed Abu Jama’a poses next to his  destroyed mercedes taxi and home in Khan Yunis due to Israeli airstrike and bulldozers during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. He has to still live at the site, since there is no place else for him to move, or too expensive for the rent after the war. Al-Zana'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Oct/08/2014
  • Eman Al-Najar, 23, saw her home in Khoza’a in Khan Yunis destroyed and her brother killed by Israel Defense Forces during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. She still stays in a tent with her family on the site of this damaged home. Despite the difficulty, she cannot leave, since there is no other place to move, or too expensive. And virtually nobody has come to help yet. Oct/10/2014
  • Mohamed Abu Samhain, 26, and his 2 year old son Rain Mohammed Samhain pose in front their destroyed home in Khan Yunis by Israeli airstrike and bulldozers during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. They have to still live at the site, since there is no place else for them to move, or too expensive for the rent after the war. Al-Zana'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza.
  • 20 years old amputee Ameer Abu Jama'a hit by Israeli artillery during the summer's 50 day war between Israel and Hamas poses at the rooftop of his destroyed home, due to Israel shelling.Al-Zana'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza, Oct 08, 2014.
  • Fadla Al-Najar, 63, and his 30 year old son Osama and her 2 year old grand-daughter Habiba, and Osama’ s 26 year old wife Taghreed, on the right, saw their home in Khoza’a in Khan Yunis destroyed by Israel Defense Forces during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. They still stay in a tent on the site of the damaged home. Despite the difficulty, they cannot leave, since there is no other place to move, or too expensive. And virtually nobody has come to help yet. Oct/10/2014
  • Wasfai Hamdan Al-Najar, 56, and his wife Fawzaya Ebrahem, 51, pose in front of their home in Khoza'a in Khan Yunis destroyed by artillery and airstrike during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. They finally, two days before, got the space to sleep. Yet it is only at night. They stay at this dangerously destroyed house with their children in day time. Oct/10/2014
  • Sabeeha Abu Rouk, 60, at her destroyed home in Khan Yunis by Israeli airstrike and bulldozers during the summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. She stays at the site with her family embers, since there is no place else for them to move, or too expensive for the rent after the war. Khoza'a in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Oct/05/2014
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