Gaza voices: 'Trapped in a prison'

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Two weeks after Hamas seized control of Gaza, Palestinians reflect on life in the Gaza Strip.

TAMER QARMOUT, 27, UNEMPLOYED, BEIT LAHIYA

Life is paralysed. We do have internal security and we do have food, but life is about more than that. What about our hopes and dreams? Our future?

You know Maslow's pyramid of needs? We're still in the first stage.

Yesterday there was an annual conference for us university students who have returned from scholarships abroad.

It was held in Ramallah and the Israelis denied those of us in Gaza permission to travel there. So half of us couldn't make it.

We had to do a video conference instead. We were supposed to discuss the same agenda, but now we have totally different concerns. The West Bankers seem more hopeful; in Gaza we're just thinking about today.

I'm applying for work with international organisations, but they can't commit as they're trying to work out what will happen next.

MOHAMED AL-SHARIF, 35, NGO WORKER, GAZA CITY

A Hamas security guard closes the gate at Gaza's Rafah crossing

Security-wise we are much better than before. We don't hear any shooting anymore and the streets are more organised.

One thing we're happy about - it's the summer wedding season here in Gaza. Often, people in Gaza shoot into the air at weddings, but that's not happening anymore. Hamas has put a stop to it.

The worst thing is that Gaza has been completely closed for two weeks.

At work we make Palestinian handicrafts and we ship our products to London, the US and Japan. We usually manage to get things out and to keep our business going, but for two weeks it's been completely shut.

One other example: I'm supposed to get married on 7July. My fiancee's parents - who live in Saudi Arabia - have been trying to get into Gaza for more than a month.

They are stuck at an Egyptian border town waiting for the Rafah Crossing to open. So we've had to postpone the wedding. Luckily they have money, so they were able to rent a chalet.

The closure is the biggest thing affecting us; we're trapped in a prison. You have no idea if you're going to get in, or get out. And of course right now, there's no political horizon.

MOHAMMED OMER, 23, JOURNALIST, RAFAH

I returned to Gaza last week after three weeks away. The main difference I saw was the destruction, starting at the Erez Crossing.

I was shocked to see the people waiting there, trying to get out of Gaza. They were filthy and there was a disgusting smell around them.

I am worried about a friend who has been stuck on the Rafah border, waiting to get in, for three weeks.

He's in a difficult situation; he has no money and he has not had a shower all this time. He says people there are starting to have problems with their skin, because it's so hot and they haven't washed.

There are even water shortages in Rafah. I've been waiting all day for water to come to the house for a shower. And this is the third day I've had to wait.

Things are missing in the markets and some things are getting more expensive; cigarettes have gone up 30%.

Even if the Israeli authorities open the border - people have no money. It's devastating.