GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Omar al-Shawa owns and runs a restaurant in Gaza City that serves snacks, sandwiches and shisha. After establishing the restaurant in 2014, Shawa has worked hard to promote it as it competes with dozens of restaurants scattered throughout the Gaza Strip.
Shawa, who has worked as a manager in many restaurants, said that food investments are currently the only viable and profitable endeavors in Gaza. “One cannot live without food, and restaurants rarely make any losses. Despite the many difficulties that we face in our business, including the continuous power cuts and the repeated wars that stop our work for long periods, our business remains very good and profitable,” he said.