![The last three Israeli operations – Operation Protective Edge, Operation Pillar of Defense and Operation Cast Lead – have led to the destruction of over 80,000 structures in Gaza. [AFP]](/sites/default/files/styles/d08_standard/public/im/Palestine_2017/Gaza_destruction.jpg?itok=uXKPoXMK "The last three Israeli operations – Operation Protective Edge, Operation Pillar of Defense and Operation Cast Lead – have led to the destruction of over 80,000 structures in Gaza. [AFP]")
Women involved in construction anywhere, though it’s becoming more and more prevalent, is still notable. But women making environmentally-friendly concrete in a blockaded area? Now, that’s impressive.
Four talented ladies are defying all odds right now with their plans to rebuild Gaza, according to Mondoweiss. Large parts of the war-torn strip of land, blockaded since 2005, remain destroyed from the last Israeli offensive on the city in 2014. Israel imposed a siege on Gaza in 2007 after Hamas siezed power and has maintained severe restrictions on exports, imports, and freedom of movement, according to btselem, an Israeli human rights center.
The Israeli government has strict policies on multi-use materials that could be repurposed for nefarious ends. As a result, there have been various initiatives over the years by Gazans to find alternative substitutes for standard supplies such as concrete. After all, necessity is the mother of invention.
What makes this project so special, though, is that Nour Buhaisi, Aya Abu Hashish, Rahma Ashour, and Angham Elmadhoun not only created concrete twice as strong as the regular stuff, but also did so by reusing rubble and leftover glass shards.
In effect, they made a recipe for an essential building material that improves its structural integrity and contributes to cleaning up their cities. Though supplies may be scarce, Gazans have no shortage of resilience—the most effective defense against oppression.
