Palestinian Bassem Abu Aoun serves Gaza-style turkey shawarma at his restaurant in an japanese Cairo neighbourhood, the place a rising variety of companies opened by these fleeing battle have many dubbing the world “Little Gaza”.
“It was an enormous gamble,” mentioned the 56-year-old about opening his restaurant, Hay al-Rimal, named after his neighbourhood in Gaza Metropolis, now devastated by Israeli bombardment.
“I might dwell for a yr on the cash I had, or open a enterprise and depart the remainder to destiny,” he mentioned.
So lower than 4 months after fleeing along with his household to neighbouring Egypt from the besieged Palestinian territory, he opened his eatery in Cairo’s Nasr Metropolis neighbourhood.
The institution is likely one of the many cafes, falafel joints, shawarma spots and sweets retailers being began by newly arriving Palestinian entrepreneurs within the space — regardless of solely being granted short-term stays by Egypt.
These areas have grow to be a refuge for the traumatised Gazan neighborhood in Cairo, providing a livelihood to enterprise homeowners, a lot of whom misplaced the whole lot within the battle.
“Even when the battle stops now in Gaza, it might take me not less than two or three years to get my life again on monitor,” Abu Aoun mentioned.
– ‘Worn out’ –
“Every part has been wiped on the market,” he continued.
His patrons are primarily fellow Palestinians, chatting of their distinct Gazan dialect as they devour sandwiches that remind them of dwelling.
On a wall subsequent to his store was a mural of intertwining Egyptian and Palestinian flags.
“I’ve a duty to my household and kids who’re in college,” mentioned the restaurateur, whose two eateries in Gaza have now been fully destroyed.
Abu Aoun and his household are amongst greater than 120,000 Palestinians who arrived in Egypt between November final yr and Might, based on Palestinian officers in Egypt.
They crossed by the Rafah border crossing, Gaza’s solely exit level to the skin world till Israeli forces seized the Palestinian facet in early Might and closed it ever since.
Though Egypt insists it will not do Israel’s bidding by permitting everlasting refugee camps on its territory, it had allowed in medical evacuees, twin passport holders and others who managed to flee.
Many drained their life financial savings to flee, paying hundreds of {dollars} a head to the non-public Egyptian journey company Hala, the one firm coordinating Gaza evacuations.
Struggle broke out in Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Hamas’s shock assault resulted within the deaths of 1,206 individuals, principally civilians, based on an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory army marketing campaign has killed 43,374 individuals in Gaza, most of them civilians, based on figures from the Hamas-run territory’s well being ministry which the UN considers dependable.
– ‘Gaza’s spirit’ –
Opening the restaurant was not a simple resolution for Abu Aoun, however he says he is glad he did it.
“I will open a second department and develop,” he mentioned with a smile, whereas watching a household from Central Asia being served a conventional Gazan salad.
Close by is Kazem, a department of a decades-old, much-loved Gaza institution serving iced dessert drinks.
Its Palestinian proprietor, Kanaan Kazem, opened the department in September after settling in Cairo.
The store presents ice cream on prime of a drink sprinkled with pistachios, a Gazan-style deal with referred to as “bouza w barad”, which has grow to be a quick favorite among the many Egyptian patrons filling the store.
“There is a sure worry and hesitation about opening a enterprise in a spot the place individuals do not know you,” mentioned Kazem, 66.
However “if we’re destined by no means to return, we should adapt to this new actuality and begin a brand new life”, he mentioned, standing alongside his sons.
Kazem hopes to return to Gaza, however his son Nader, who manages the store, has determined to remain in Egypt.
“There are extra alternatives, security and stability right here, and it is a big market,” mentioned Nader, a father of two.
Gazan patron Bashar Mohammed, 25, takes consolation within the flourishing Palestinian companies.
“Little Gaza jogs my memory of Gaza’s spirit and wonder and makes me really feel like I am actually in Gaza,” he mentioned.
After greater than a yr of battle, Gaza has grow to be uninhabitable resulting from in depth destruction and injury to infrastructure, based on the United Nations.
“It might be laborious to return to Gaza. There is no life left there,” he mentioned, taking a deep breath.
“I’ve to construct a brand new life right here.”
