The Palestinians are a very intelligent resourceful people. It must have made the Israelis grind their teeth in rage to know that despite living in an open air prison, Palestinians in Gaza had a literacy rate of 97%. It would explain the ferocity with which Israel went after the educated sections of society, such as doctors, teachers, pharmacists, engineers, nurses, university professors, lawyers etc. makes the silence of global bodies representing these professions all the more damning.

Toxins released from burning plastic can “disrupt neurodevelopment, endocrine, and reproductive functions” and lead to cancer, heart disease, and many more serious health conditions, according to the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

“And I, of course, deal with the dust and smoke and the burning,” said Abu Ajwa, “this all goes into your lungs and makes you cough all night. It’s exhausting. It wears you out completely. The work is tough—not easy. It’s fire, and we all got burned here. We’ve all been burned by this fire.”

Making hard sacrifices, for the greater good of everyone.