CRI听力:No Guarantee for Gaza's Future

Two weeks after the end of the Israeli assault in the Gaza Strip, people in the besieged enclave are still not optimistic about their future.

CRI's Qizhi has more.

Sitting in front of the rubble at Shejaiya, 46-year-old Yahya watches the remains of his house and waits for officials to record the damage.

The neighborhood was one of the places that underwent the heaviest Israeli attack during the conflict."If I had money, I would leave Gaza.

Three wars in six years, and this war is much worse than before. We brought up our kids, then we lost them in front of our eyes, this is so difficult."

Yahya's nephew Mohammed built a new house at Shejaiya last year after receiving compensation for his previous house, damaged in 2008. However, the new home was also destroyed in the recent assault. Mohammed says he feels hopeless about the future.

"What's the meaning of hope? Our home was destroyed before, now it is destroyed again. I got married three months ago, I bought new furniture for my flat, I prepared for my new life to make business, now I have nothing. I need to rebuild my home again, I need to buy new furniture, I need to do business, but from where?"

Abu Hossam, a psychologist in Gaza, says people lost too much in the assault.

"They are out of the house, their memories are lost, their protection has lost and their dignity has even lost as well. They are running around UNRWA or other NGOs trying to get some food parcels or some money for their living expenses."

The current calm situation feels fragile to many, and they think that violence will erupt again.

"Many are scared to go back to their places, because they are afraid that anything could happen and the ceasefire might not be held for a long time. Because there's no guarantees, and nothing has been materializing on the ground to show good intention by the Israelis that they are really implementing what they have agreed on the Egyptian negotiation."

Israel and Hamas reached a long-term ceasefire last month and will start negotiation later to discuss unresolved issues. People in Gaza hope the negotiation can really help to end the Gaza siege.

"We need our rights, to have airports and seaports. These are natural things for human beings."
But most people are not optimistic.

"We will not get anything from Israel. Mahmoud Abbas since 20 years has made negotiations, and nothing happened. The Israelis want the land, the settlements, everything."

And many say the resistance against Israel won't end until they get freedom.

"The resistance may not free Jerusalem, but they stopped the Israelis invading Gaza and doing what they do in the West Bank. They give warning to the Israelis: here is Gaza, not similar to the West Bank. We are not an easy bite to eat."

For CRI, I'm Qizhi.