Hamas uses its own resources to begin rebuilding Gaza

[shaayecanaan]

http://www.smh.com.au/world/hamas-uses-its-own-resources-to-begin-rebuilding-gaza-20090519-be7q.html

THE Hamas Government in Gaza has taken the first step towards the reconstruction of thousands of buildings destroyed by the Israeli military offensive in January.

With Israeli and Egyptian authorities still preventing concrete and steel entering the Gaza Strip, Hamas has turned to a form of local sandstone.

"The rubble from the thousands of buildings destroyed, we will use for new foundations. Everything that was destroyed, we are recovering all the raw materials and trying to re-use them," he said.

The stone being used for the first building project is a mixture of compressed sand, clay and calcium deposits found naturally in Gaza. A versatile material, the stone can be used for bricks and, in polished form, for floor tiles and other decorative features.

[Bonobo]

1. They're such a great bunch of guys! nt

[shaayecanaan]

2. Interesting that they can do this on their budget of $70 million, while UNRWA

can do seemingly little with its budget of $500 million, other than run the schools.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Own resources? Everything Hamas has came from outside and they are beholden to the givers

First good quake the mud and stone buildings will tumble down.

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. well,

if concrete wasn't considered to be an evil weapon of terror by the usurping entity, that wouldn't be an issue now would it?

[Violet_Crumble]

6. Yeah, the article got it wrong. Gaza clearly has NO natural resources being used...

Thanks for clearing that up ;)

[shaayecanaan]

10. Not mud...

Calcite. Its essentially concrete, it bonds together by hydration. Concrete blocks are generally called calcite bricks, you see. There is quite a lot of it in the Levant, which is why there are quite a few cement factories in Israel.

[excess_3]

5. missing component ... ---> straw ...n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

7. The missing components are concrete and steel n/t

[shaayecanaan]

9. You dont need temper (straw) when making calcite bricks...

only when making clay bricks.

[proteus_lives]

8. They should.

They claim to the voice and government of the people of Gaza. It's time they act like it.