Gaza's 5 star hotel is empty

Very few are able to afford to stay in the spanking new five star hotel with restaurants and cafes overlooking the beach, the first of its kind in the Gaza Strip.
Boasting 222 rooms with sea views and flat screen televisions, the eight storey al-Mashtal hotel remains almost empty.
Construction of the $47 million hotel began in 1998 when locals were optimistic about the area's future.
Today lack of tourists and the effects of Hamas controlled Gaza, have led the hotel management to open a restricted number of rooms in the building to save on maintenance costs.
The rooms that are available are mainly booked by local couples on their honeymoon or a handful of international officials visiting the Gaza Strip.
Local women are unable to swim in the pool and the hotel is barred from selling alcohol banned by Hamas in accordance with Islamic tradition.
With thousands of Gazans living below the poverty line being able to afford to stay in such a luxury hotel remains a dream for many.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• 07
• 08
• 2011
• hotel
• english

[llKeon]

Well, all the construction material aid sent by Israel ends here.

[HalalKafir]

@Volf99 Our media is massively based. The US and Europe having been pouring BILLIONS of dollars into Gaza and the West Bank for years, little of which actually go to the people. Most of it ends up in the hands of the PA govt., Fatah and Hamas who use our aid money to co-finance their terror against Israel and ultimately the West. One example of how absurd Gaza is: Since 2009, the EU is paying the salaries (at triple the going rate!) of 70.000 govt. workers in Gaza NOT to go to work!

[HalalKafir]

Most bitchin' hotel ever built within the confines of a concentration camp.

Palestinians are such lying sacks of shit - and most Westerners believe the outrageous propaganda they've been fed for years. Sad.

[AbuAvital]

"Come to Gaza, see suicide bombers training, learn how to build fire and rockets," with all these attractions I'm surprised that the world is not flocking to vacation there.

[tzinanechumah]

47 Million Dollar, 5 Star, Hotel in Gaza, empty?

[TruthseekerIL]

As always the west is believing Taqiya of muslims,to lie to defend Islam. People must stop believing the false deceiving propaganda of muslims

[Volf99]

@invader519 .....wow. I had a totally different picture of Gaza, the media makes it sound like some third world undeveloped society. wtf, its actually decent.

[invader519]

@Volf99

gaza looks like any other country in the me.

complete with nice houses,villa's and as you''ve just seen very nice hotels.

your picture of gaza is what Hamas wants you to see (by media)

[Volf99]

I'm really confused, I thought Gaza was a war zone and looked like western Europe after WW2.......... but it's not? Can someone describe what Gaza looks like? I apologize for my ignorance.

[troglodyte3344]

@Lagolop Bring back Hitler to take care of people like you :)