GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — In the neighborhood of al-Nasr to the west of Gaza, at the doorstep of a modest house with an asbestos roof, two young girls — Nasma, 12, and Abir, 7 — were seated with chunks of bread in their hands, silently watching a group of children play on an old swing.
Even though it was clear that both girls had an eager desire to join the children, they did not approach the swing.