Latest update: 08/05/2008 

- anniversary - Hamas - Israel - Palestinian Territories


In a refugee camp with the son of Hamas leader Haniyeh
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Abdelsalam Haniyeh, the son of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, has walked through the narrow lanes of the Shati refugee camp ever since he was a boy. (Report: M.de Chalvron)

Ismail Haniyeh is hiding from the Israelis, but his presence is felt everywhere in the Gaza refugee camp of Shati. Even at his uncle’s house, you can see the family resemblance.

Abu Youssef was the first refugee in the Haniyeh family. In May 1948, as the Israeli army advanced, he left his home. The family came from Joura, a palestinian village that became part of modern-day Ashkelon in Israel. In the distance, we see the Ashkelon power plant. A constant reminder that the city is only 15 kms away.

Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas PM in Gaza, is also a regular attender at the stadium built by the United Nations. Like his father, Abdelsalam still wears the colours of the club. He is proud of the team colours, proud to be a refugee. But Abdelsalam doesn’t forget the most important thing: though they've been refugees for the past 60 years, his family still believe their status is temporary.

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