Salah al-Kahlout shows a uncommon stone at his heart in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 13, 2021. (Picture: Xinhua)
Salah al-Kahlout shows a uncommon stone at his heart in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 13, 2021. (Picture: Xinhua)
Salah al-Kahlout shows a uncommon stone at his heart in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 13, 2021. (Picture: Xinhua)
Salah al-Kahlout shows uncommon stones at his heart in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 18, 2021. (Picture: Xinhua)
It’s onerous to overlook the 1000’s of uncommon and valuable stones scattered round the home of Salah al-Kahlout, a Palestinian man from Jabaliya refugee camp within the northern Gaza Strip.
The 54-year-old man opened a gallery at residence earlier this month beneath the title “Palestine Gemstone Exhibition,” wherein he shows the bounties of land and sea within the coastal enclave.
Some tones are seen on the ground. Others are positioned on glass cabinets with their names subsequent to them. Rubies, emeralds, coral, antiques, and diamonds are among the many lots of of displays.
“Presently, I personal greater than 5,000 uncommon rocks and valuable stones, which I’ve been amassing over 5 years,” al-Kahlout, a father of 13, instructed Xinhua.
“My passion could seem unusual or loopy to others, however for me, these uncommon rocks and stones are what attracts folks right here to take pleasure in the fantastic thing about historical past.”
Holding a small rock in a form of a tree, the person mentioned he got here up with the thought in 2000 when he got here again from Saudi Arabia, from which he introduced a tool used for valuable stones examination.
Initially, it was solely a passion and it took him a very long time till he determined to open a gallery. Decided to satisfy his dream, he would get up early within the morning and take to the seashore or to the japanese borders to dig for rocks and stones.
“I collected dozens of them. Initially, a few of them have been used to supply jewellery for my spouse and sisters, however later I made a decision to maintain them in order that they might be a memento for me sometime,” he mentioned.
“My passion didn’t cease there. My ardour grew stronger as I grew to become extra within the historical past of the Gaza Strip and after I understood that the rocks might inform these tales,” he mentioned, including that he couldn’t full his mission alone.
He fashioned a small crew along with his mates, who would take turns to go to the ocean in an effort to scavenge for rocks and gems. As soon as stones have been discovered, they might be given to al-Kahlout for examination.
The crew additionally employed a big group of native specialists finding out valuable stones and rocks.
“I used to be capable of gather and purchase 1000’s of gems and rocks contained in the Strip. Some have been left by empires that managed this space,” he mentioned.
Al-Kahlout categorised and positioned the stones inside plastic baggage, every carrying its personal title.
Lately, Al-Kahlout obtained accreditation from the related authorities companies within the Strip to gather and show these items.
In response to him, as antiquities paperwork historic intervals, rocks and stones additionally doc ages, however from a purely geological viewpoint.
The person plans to take part in Arab and worldwide exhibitions in the course of the coming interval to reinforce the Palestinian presence within the subject and purchase extra talent and information on this subject.
Shortly, Kahlout will begin the required procedures to attempt to enter the Guinness E book of World Data because the particular person with the rarest rocks and valuable stones assortment.
Nawaf Al-Najjar, 64, from Jabaliya refugee camp, can be a fan of amassing valuable stones. He began his passion 40 years in the past when he was working with an Israeli gold seller.
“At the moment, I realized from the Israeli man the way to make rings utilizing valuable stones and diamonds,” Al-Najjar, a father of eight, instructed Xinhua.
He mentioned, “After I guarantee that the piece I discovered was a valuable stone, I made jewellery, rings and bracelets for ladies, whereas typically I bought them to my buddy Salah.”
Al-Najjar identified whereas he was holding a small rock that he discovered on the shore of the Gaza Sea. “This sea throws to us treasures and jewels, however we endure from a scarcity of capabilities to transform these rocks into jewellery and promote them.”
Moataz Abed, 28, a resident of Al-Shatea refugee camp in Gaza, can be benefitting from this initiative. He searches for rocks and valuable stones, regardless that there are days on which he fails to seek out any.
“Though this occupation is troublesome, I could make about 1,000 U.S. {dollars} at one time, which is some huge cash for an unemployed particular person,” Abed mentioned as he seemed on the sea.
