VIOLETA
SANTOS MOURA

The ruins of a bombarded apartment building stand precariously in downtown Gaza city. Many thousands remain homeless months after Israel's 2014 bombardments of the Gaza Strip. 24th November 2014

- BETWEEN WARS -

Gaza Strip, 2014

A destroyed bus remains outside what used to be a civilian public transportation company, located in front of the bombarded house of Mohamed Deif, the chief commander of the military wing of Hamas, the Izz Ad-Din Al Qassam Brigades. The airstrike carried out by the Israeli air force killed Deif's 27-year-old wife Widad, 7-month-old son Ali and 3-year-old daughter Sara. The bus company and a print shop were completely destroyed in the attack carried out during the last Israeli military offensive against the Palestinian movement Hamas in control of the densely populated enclave in the summer of 2014. Close to 2200 people killed, the majority Palestinian civilians. On the Israeli side 66 soldiers and 6 civilians were killed. Gaza City, 24th November 2014

The ruins of residencies are seen in the heavily destroyed Gaza City's neighborhood of Shuja'iyya. Many thousands remain homeless months after the last Israeli military offensive against the Palestinian movement Hamas in control of the densely populated enclave in the summer of 2014. Close to 2200 people killed, the majority Palestinian civilians. On the Israeli side 66 soldiers and 6 civilians were killed. Gaza Strip, 24th November 2014

A man separates ruble from bombarded building to be later recycled and turned into construction material.

A Palestinian man makes a phone call outside a governmental meeting about post-war reconstruction held at what remains of a bombarded government building in Gaza City. Virtually no reconstruction has taken place due to Israeli imposed restriction on the importing of construction materials and many thousands remain homeless months after the last Israeli military offensive against the Palestinian movement Hamas in control of the densely populated enclave in the summer of 2014. Close to 2200 people killed, the majority Palestinian civilians. On the Israeli side 66 soldiers and 6 civilians were killed. Gaza Strip, 24th November 2014

Hussam Safar, a resident of the heavily bombarded neighborhood of Shuja'iyya in the east of Gaza City, sits by his and his neighbors destroyed homes. Many thousands remain homeless months after the last Israeli military offensive against the Palestinian movement Hamas in control of the densely populated enclave in the summer of 2014. Close to 2200 people killed, the majority Palestinian civilians. On the Israeli side 66 soldiers and 6 civilians were killed. Gaza Strip, 24th November 2014

A shepherd tends to his sheep in a pasture that used to be the Gaza International Airport, inaugurated in 1998. The airport cost 80 million euros donated by Germany, Spain , Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The terminal lasted 3 years. In 2001, with the second Palestinian uprising, the Israeli air force destroyed the airfield. The Gaza Strip remains under an Israeli imposed land, sea and air blockade since 2007. Gaza Strip, 25th November 2014

Months after the last Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, a pack of foxes remains trapped, sick and starved in the bombarded zoo of the northern town of Beit Lahiya. Many animals died in the bombardments or died of starvation during Israel's 2014 50 day offensive on the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian movement Hamas in control of the densely populated enclave. Many more animals (wolves, ostriches, crocodiles and apes) remain exposed to the elements in unsanitary conditions after the zoo declared it was no longer capable of feeding or cleaning the animal´s cages, damp with rain and the animals' feces. The animals are only occasionally fed by residents of the surrounding area and were remained exposed to the harshest weather in memory in the coastal Palestinian enclave.Close to 2200 people killed, the majority Palestinian civilians. On the Israeli side 66 soldiers and 6 civilians were killed.

Gaza Strip, 27th November 2014

A destroyed residential apartment block is seen in Beit Lahiya. Many thousands remain homeless after the war.

A caterpillar is seen amid the rubble in the bombarded neighborhood of Shujaya in the east of Gaza City.

A man walks past a destroyed mosque and a water reservoir in the town of Khuzaa.

A graffiti depicting a rocket used to target Israeli territory is seen in Gaza city.

Children play in the dome of a bombarded mosque in the town of Khuzaa in the Gaza Strip. Buried in ruble and ruins are an estimated 7000 bombs, rockets and other unexploded ordnance scattered throughout the Palestinian enclave. Close to 2200 people killed, the majority Palestinian civilians in the last Israeli military offensive against the Palestinian movement Hamas in control of the densely populated enclave in the summer of 2014. On the Israeli side 66 soldiers and 6 civilians were killed. Gaza Strip, 25th November 2014

Youth practices parkour moves in a bombarded structure in Beit Hanoun. Gaza has an increasing number of parkour enthusiasts, a street sport created in the 90s, in France, consisting traveling distances quickly and efficiently, overcoming urban obstacles. Among these obstacles in Gaza are 7000 bombs, rockets and other unexploded ordnance scattered throughout the territory.

Twenty three year old Ibrahim, A.K.A. MC Gaza is one of the 50 rappers in Gaza and sees it as his mission to stir debate and motivate his peers. Hamas has forbidden concerts since 2007 when it took power. The remaining cultural and entertainment facilities that Hamas hasn't shut down, were either damaged or destroyed in the wars. 

Some children play while others sell cigarettes and kleenex packs to make ends meet.

Mimi, Nunu and Lulu, 14, 15 and 16 years old, are all A+ students. In their pink themed room, they say they desperately hope to leave the Gaza Strip.Lulu says “I would like to study medicine or pharmacy to come back and help treat the wounded of the war”.

Their father Ayman, a pharmacist, is desperately trying all possible ways to make it possible for his family to leave Gaza. The family won the green card lottery for the US but the family’s visa was denied by the US consulate. Their mother, Heba, does not have a college degree, they said. Regardless, Heba's embroidery accessories and jewelry are coveted from all over the world as shown by her brand's Facebook page. But even her pieces cannot be exported to allow Heba to expand her business. There are no international postal services in and out of Gaza. The girls are broken hearted.

A bombed apartment block is seen in Beit Lahiya. Many thousands remain homeless after the war.

The ruins of an unfinished mosque are seen meters from the UN Beit Hanoun School for Boys, now serving as shelter for families left homeless by Israeli bombardments. Half year since the war, hundreds of people still inhabit the school.

A boy sweeps rain water from the courtyard  of the UN Beit Hanoun School for Boys, now serving as shelter for families left homeless by Israeli bombardments. Almost a year since the war, hundreds of people still inhabit this and other UN schools in Gaza.

People await to be given bread at the UN Beit Hanoun School for Boys, now serving as shelter for families left homeless by Israeli bombardments. Almost a year since the war, hundreds of people still inhabit this and other UN schools in Gaza.

A boy reacts to his own description of the extent of destruction in the bombarded neighborhood of Shuja'iyya in the east of Gaza City. Gaza Strip, 24 November 2015

A feline remains strapped, sick and starved in a bombarded zoo in Gaza. The lynx kept bouncing back and forth to the left and to right in repetitive non-stopping moves of weariness. Many animals died in the bombardments or died of starvation during Israel's offensive. Many more (wolves, ostriches, crocodiles and apes) remain, exposed to the elements in unsanitary conditions after the zoo declared it was no longer capable of feeding or cleaning the animal´s cages, damp with rain and the animals feces. Those animals that remain are only occasionally fed by residents of the surrounding area. Exposed to the harshest weather in memory in the Gaza Strip, their survival is unlikely unless urgent measures are undertaken.

The ruins of residencies are seen in the heavily destroyed Gaza City's neighborhood of Shuja'iyya. Many thousands remain homeless after the war.

A monument depicts a rocket used by Hamas or other armed groups to target Israeli territory.

School children walk past a mural painted outside a UN school depicting an injured child.

Fresh graves are left opened in the city of Beit Hanoun.

Mr. Ramez Barkr gazes at the sand where his son Mohamed was killed by an Israeli missile while playing football on the beach. Three of his nephews were also killed in the attack. Mr. Bakr has also been without news of three other relatives who escaped to Egypt a few months before the smuggling tunnels were destroyed. They set to sea along dozens of others who are feared dead in a desperate attempt to reach Europe. Thousands from several conflict stricken countries have lost their lives in the Mediterranean trying to get to Europe.

Sarya and Ramez become silent for a few seconds after speaking about their son 11 year old son Mohammed, killed months before by an Israeli missile while playing football on the Gaza city beach with his cousins. Three of their nephews were also killed in the attack.

Sayed sits watching TV under the memorial portraits of his brother Mohammed. Mohamed was playing football on the beach with his cousins and brother Sayed when they were hit by an Israeli missile. Mohamed died instantly. So did their cousins. Sayed was seriously injured, suffers from severe post traumatic stress and is in urgent need of medical assistance and neurological diagnosis nonexistent in Gaza.

Gaza city's skyline is seen from it´s port.

A woman and a child walk in the severely damaged city of Beit Lahiya. Many thousands remain homeless after the war.

A destroyed residential apartment block is seen in Beit Lahiya. Many thousands remain homeless after the war.

Women walk in the streets of Gaza city. According to UNRWA, "facing the compounded effects of the continuing Israeli-Egyptian blockade and the closure of smuggling tunnels with Egypt, the Gaza economy was already collapsing before the conflict".

Months after the last Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, a pack of foxes remains trapped, sick and starved in the bombarded zoo of the northern town of Beit Lahiya. Many animals died in the bombardments or died of starvation during Israel's 2014 50 day offensive on the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian movement Hamas in control of the densely populated enclave. Many more animals (wolves, ostriches, crocodiles and apes) remain exposed to the elements in unsanitary conditions after the zoo declared it was no longer capable of feeding or cleaning the animal´s cages, damp with rain and the animals' feces. The animals are only occasionally fed by residents of the surrounding area and were remained exposed to the harshest weather in memory in the coastal Palestinian enclave.Close to 2200 people killed, the majority Palestinian civilians. On the Israeli side 66 soldiers and 6 civilians were killed.Gaza Strip, 27th November 2014

The Erez crossing is currently the only entrance to Gaza for people to cross. Other entrances are closed or serve only the entrance of goods. Access to the outside world, at the edge of this caged 700 meters pathway, is controlled by Israel. Left behind, are nearly 2 million people jostled in mere 365 square kms, unable to leave their own territory, one of the most densely populated places on earth. The Gaza Strip remains under an Israeli imposed land, sea and air blockade since 2007. Gaza Strip, 27th November 2014