Hotel Hamastan
By Sharon Weinberger
From a distance, the shimmering façade of Gaza's first five-star hotel rises above the coast like the lone survivor of a tsunami. The 2008-09 Israeli invasion left thousands of buildings damaged or destroyed, and economic sanctions, which include restrictions on concrete, have made rebuilding an agonizingly slow undertaking. Yet the 10-story Al-Mashtal boasts more than 270 modern rooms, a lagoon-style swimming pool, and an ornate, marble-filled interior. On closer inspection, Gaza's first five-star hotel is something of an economic mirage. Although a paper sign posted at the front entrance warns visitors that there's a food and drink minimum for those wishing to sit at the restaurant bar, the lobby is all but deserted...[continued]
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Gaza Strip @ Wikipedia
Gaza War @ Wikipedia
