rafah divided_paulinebeugnies (20 images)

Rafah, a divided town which tears families apart
Rafah the Palestinian, Rafah the Egyptian; the city has been divided since 1982, when a peace agreement between Israël and Egypt was signed. For many years, the border between Egypt and the Gaza strip could be crossed. But sfor more than ten years, the city has been cut into two parts by the Philadelphia corridor and "official" crossing is very difficult. The Keshta clan lives on both sides of the border. This family is...
more »

Rafah, a divided town which tears families apart
Rafah the Palestinian, Rafah the Egyptian; the city has been divided since 1982, when a peace agreement between Israël and Egypt was signed. For many years, the border between Egypt and the Gaza strip could be crossed. But sfor more than ten years, the city has been cut into two parts by the Philadelphia corridor and "official" crossing is very difficult. The Keshta clan lives on both sides of the border. This family is originally from Rafah, but the border has isolated them and reduced their exchanges. Most of the men from this clan work in the smuggling tunnels, binding them to their Egyptian brothers. The women stay home with their children. They consider this work far too dangerous, yet they have no other choice than to send their sons. Since the blockade imposed by Israël, with the help of Egypt in 2007, after Hamas took over power in the Gaza Strip, this area has been full of smuggling tunnels. They furnish all sorts of products - from medicine to crisps - to the population and the islamist party. Oum Ahmed Keshta lives in the Philadelphia corridor with her husband and 6 children. They turned their garden into a tunnel three years ago. Her sister lives in Egypt, they haven't seen each other since her wedding in 2004. Oum Bilal Keshta lives a few meters further. From the roof of her house, she points to white tents, all hiding tunnels and in the distance, on the other side of the border, she points at some drying clothes...on her sister's balcony.
« less