In the Al Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza, residents have transformed a conflict-stricken area into a vibrant work of art.
Formerly bare doors and windows are now covered in rainbow shades of paint, and pastel-colored flower pots hang down alleyways. There are swirling murals on light purple and yellow walls, and brightly colored bricks line the sidewalks.
The neighborhood's aesthetic stands at odds with its devastated surroundings. Gaza is still recovering from last summer's 50 days of war between the Israeli army and Palestinian militants in the territory. This conflict came on the heels of another flare up in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict just two years prior.
The effort in Al Zaytoun to beautify the neighborhood was the brainchild of 58-year-old resident Mohammed Al Saedi, who wanted to create a positive atmosphere. He began painting pots in his own home, but had bigger ambitions.
A colorful home in the Al Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza.
"I wanted this idea to spread beyond my house," Al Saedi told reporter Jehad Saftawi in a video for the U.S.-based nonprofit Institute for Middle East Understanding, which provides information to journalists on Palestinian issues.
"I wanted to create a serene atmosphere full of flowers and colors in an attempt to heal the suffering and psychological effects of the siege," Al Saedi said.
In this Oct. 12, 2014 file photo, Palestinians walk between the rubble of a destroyed building in Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip.
His initiative was aided by local residents and the Tamer Institute for Community Education, a Palestinian nonprofit that contributed painting supplies and some artists to help with the project.
In the video, residents tout the colorful neighborhood as a grand success.
"We felt very happy when they painted the neighborhood," says 10-year-old Maram Haddad. "It's become very beautiful."
Over 2,100 Palestinians and 70 Israelis died in the 2014 conflict and around 100,000 Gaza homes were destroyed or damaged. Corruption and lack of access to building materials blocked rebuilding efforts.
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