Palestine: Cafes in blockaded Gaza let people time travel to Dubai, Maldives and many other dream cities

'Dream destination' cafes offer taste of paradise in blockaded Gaza strip

Published: August 20, 2020 13:19 Nilanjana Javed, Senior News Editor with inputs from Reuters

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Mediterranean waves crash below patrons snacking on freshly-caught fish at the “Maldive Gaza” cafe, offering a glimpse of paradise to Palestinians confined to the blockaded strip. Image Credit: Reuters

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Palestinian families sit at "Maldive Gaza" cafe on a beach in Gaza City. Image Credit: Reuters

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Many of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians have never left the 360 sq km (140 sq mile) enclave, which Israel and Egypt have largely blockaded for years citing security concerns over its Islamist rulers Hamas. Image Credit: Reuters

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It is one of several new seaside cafes bearing the names of dream travel destinations such as 'Marbella', 'Dubai' and 'Sharm Al-Sheikh' among them. Image Credit: Reuters

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“The people of Gaza can’t go to the Maldives, so we said to ourselves: Why don’t we bring the Maldives to them?” said Emad Al-Bayya, co-owner of the cafe, which seats 1,200 and which he hopes to expand. Image Credit: Reuters

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They offer a brief window onto a more exotic life to people “who have been subject to wars, pressures and blockades”, said Rola Al-Agha, one of hundreds of patrons packed into “Maldive Gaza” on a pleasantly breezy evening last week. Image Credit: Reuters

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Gaza has had no COVID-19 cases among the general public, and there are few curbs on social interactions. Image Credit: Reuters

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The new three-storey restaurant, protruding 15 metres over the rocky shoreline, also features the tropical juice drinks typical of the distant Indian ocean island after which it is named. Image Credit: Reuters

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A Palestinian boy walks at "Maldive Gaza" cafe on a beach in Gaza City. Image Credit: Reuters

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