Hani Almadhoun is originally from Beit Lahia in the Northern Gaza Strip, where he completed his secondary and part of his university studies. Hani moved to the Unites States in 2000 and continued his studies, eventually moving out to the Washington D.C. area. After some time in D.C., Hani decided to pursue a graduate degree at Brigham Young University as a Masters of Public Administration student in the Marriot School of Business. During his time at Brigham Young, Hani authored a business plan for a Palestinian Denim company in the Gaza Strip he called "PASHiON" (a combination of the words Palestine and Fashion). The business plan eventually made him a finalist for the Business School's annual Social Venture Competition. Hani currently lives in Washington D.C. where he works for a non-profit that helps promote Palestinian culture and the development of even greater Human rights within Palestine. When Hani is not working nor worrying about his loved ones back in Gaza, he blogs as a member of the Kabobfest Blog and when given a free opportunity, does standup comedy in D.C. area clubs.

Blog Entries by Hani Almadhoun

Egypt's Wall Should Protect Egypt, Not Punish the People of Gaza

Posted December 28, 2009 | 04:14 PM (EST)


The Egyptian government is building a wall within its borders to protect themselves from smugglers and illegal activates that have been taken place near the border with Gaza. Many Palestinians in Gaza understand the need for Egypt to secure its borders and cast away illegal activities that threaten Egypt's national...

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Israel Traps Itself: How Netanyahu's Israel is Less Safe

8 Comments | Posted December 15, 2009 | 05:00 PM (EST)


The right wing Israeli government is in bad shape right now. At least that's what a close look at the political arena reveals.

At this moment, most countries in the European Union are not too fond of Israel's policies nor the country's leadership, for that matter. The United States...

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Smoothies in Gaza: In Defiance of Nature and the Siege

8 Comments | Posted September 8, 2009 | 11:27 AM (EST)


One of my favorite days of the month was going to Costco and buying a large bag of frozen fruits -- the ones you get for ten bucks, a bag of bananas for a dollar fifty, a case of Tropicana orange juice for eleven bucks, and frozen yogurt for five...

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The Endless Adventure of Trying to Leave Gaza

2 Comments | Posted August 11, 2009 | 02:31 AM (EST)


I am now on my seventh week of what was to be a four week visit to Gaza. Getting in wasn't easy, but getting out has been nothing short of impossible. I have been trying to leave Gaza for more than three weeks and have yet to succeed in doing...

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No Way Out: I'm Trapped in Gaza

22 Comments | Posted July 16, 2009 | 01:31 PM (EST)


For the past three weeks, I have been visiting my family in the northern Gaza Strip. I was shocked and devastated by the de-development of the Gaza Strip. It was even worse than I imagined. Destruction and destitution are rampant. Combine that with sky high unemployment rates and limited or...

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God, Painkillers, and Politics in Gaza

37 Comments | Posted May 26, 2009 | 11:20 AM (EST)


For the past three years, my hometown in the Gaza Strip has been struggling with an international siege that limits movement and controls the flow of humanitarian aid. In deprived Gaza, the dreams of a million and a half residents on the narrow strip of land are shattered. The situation...

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From Durban II With No Love

Posted April 22, 2009 | 05:53 PM (EST)


News of Western diplomats walking out during a speech made by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, in protest over his criticism of the State of Israel and its Zionist culture made me pause. A day before the conference convened, the newly elected Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared that...

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Israel Extreme Make Over: Here Is a Start

Posted March 27, 2009 | 02:53 PM (EST)


Recent elections in Israel that resulted the victory of the Israeli right wing; the high death toll of civilians during the Israeli assault on Gaza, and the admission by Israeli soldiers that they viewed Gaza as a "shooting gallery" and randomly shot innocent civilians unconcerned about the consequences; the surge...

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Cuban American Leadership Out of Sync

Posted March 3, 2009 | 02:21 PM (EST)


News of possibly easing the embargo on Cuba and lifting travel restrictions to Cuba are circulating. With a new U.S. administration in charge and a promise to change past and outdated US foreign policies, one group in particular has become worried. The conservative Cuban-American political leadership is unhappy about this...

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Gaza: the Audacity to Survive

Posted January 28, 2009 | 06:04 PM (EST)


A day after Israel ended its assault in Gaza Strip, my family (like countless other civilians) finally returned to the ruined remnants of their former lives and homes. The homes they left behind are now nothing more than bits and pieces of rubble. The houses and apartment buildings were abandoned...

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Chronicles Of My Gaza Family

Posted January 17, 2009 | 06:18 PM (EST)


Being from Gaza these days is a burden. Everyone who knows me is asking about my family. And all I can answer is how they were four days ago when I could reach them last. They have no electricity now, and I can only hope they are alright.

I can...

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