Rebuilding Gaza Beset by Hamas

Mohammad Awad was so happy when the lights came back on that he didn’t want to go bed.

A trickle of electricity started flowing into Gaza City four days ago after Israel announced a unilateral cease-fire. Gazans such as Mr. Awad, 23, an engineering student, are relishing the whir of refrigerators and the distraction of television—conveniences they had to live without during three weeks of Israeli bombardment.

But the rejoicing is tempered by recognition that the task of rebuilding is daunting and complicated by the refusal of many nations, including the United States, to deal directly with the territory’s battered ruler, Hamas.

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Elliott D. Woods is a VQR contributing editor.