In Gaza and the West Bank, a powerful feeling of paralysis pervades. Peter Maurer, the ICRC president, who visited Israel and the occupied territories last week, said: “Witnessing these situations profoundly affected me as a father and as a human being. Every responsible political decision must be made bearing in mind the effect it has on the lives of ordinary people. It was a sobering experience for me to return after three years to see that things have only changed for the worse.”
Photo Gallery: the daily life in West Bank and Gaza
Mahmoud Abu Qbeita, Hebron: “Crossing the check-point on the way to school, to see a doctor, buy groceries or visit a family member is our reality. We got so used to it, it has become normal. But, sometimes, I can’t help asking myself: why do we have to live such a life?”
Photo: CC BY-NC-ND /Alyona Synenko/ICRC