Gaza - Ministry of Health bans hookahs, cafes remain deserted

 In this coradavirus Ramadan, Gaza warns in particular of the lack of the 'shisha', the hookah that is depopulated in local cafes. Although there have only been 20 coronavirus cases so far in Gaza (14 of them cured), the ministry of health has been adamant and has banned coffee managers from offering 'shisha' to patrons. Nonetheless, they give new mouthpieces to each customer and throw away the plastic tube after each use. Now the option of entering a cafe in the evening, at the end of the daily fast, is thus discarded. "Sitting at a table without smoking is certainly not the same" say the patrons.
    A hookah is offered at the modest price of 10 shekels, two and a half euros, and allows you to smoke for an hour and a half. It is a social habit because the 'shisha' best accompanies the chatter with friends. There are different opinions about the blend of tobacco: there are those who opt for the taste of watermelon, others are for mint or strawberry, although normally Gaza prefers Egyptian tobacco over apple flavor. In the past, there has also been an arm wrestling around the hookahs between the population and the leaders of Hamas, annoyed at the sight of women smoking in public. In the end, the latter prevailed. For now this belongs to the past anyway. The option of a homemade hookah is not practical because of its laborious maintenance and the risk that the coals cause fires.
    At the end of the daily fast, the inhabitants of Gaza can only console themselves by opening another pack of cigarettes, waiting for the danger of the pandemic to be declared overcome. Then you can enjoy a smoke of 'shisha' again in the company.