Gaza's 5 star hotel is empty

Very few are able to afford to stay in the spanking new five star hotel with restaurants and cafes overlooking the beach, the first of its kind in the Gaza Strip. Boasting 222 rooms with sea views and flat screen televisions, the eight storey al-Mashtal hotel remains almost empty. Construction of the $47 million hotel began in 1998 when locals were optimistic about the area's future. Today lack of tourists and the effects of Hamas controlled Gaza, have led the hotel management to open a restricted number of rooms in the building to save on maintenance costs. The rooms that are available are mainly booked by local couples on their honeymoon or a handful of international officials visiting the Gaza Strip. Local women are unable to swim in the pool and the hotel is barred from selling alcohol banned by Hamas in accordance with Islamic tradition. With thousands of Gazans living below the poverty line being able to afford to stay in such a luxury hotel remains a dream for many.