Israel Effaces All Signs of Joy, Ability to Celebrate Eid in Gaza
Amid all the destruction and staggering death toll, Palestinians in Gaza are left with no chance to celebrate this year’s Eid al-Adha.
From the heart of Gaza, our correspondent reflected on the atmosphere of the first day of Eid al-Adha in the Strip, in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression for the 254th day, which targeted all necessities of life and reduced buildings, mosques, and markets to rubble.
Our correspondent confirmed that there are no signs of joy across the Gaza Strip, as shops are almost all closed with most of them destroyed. He added that the most important ritual that the people of Gaza perform every year, which is offering sacrifice, is absent as the people are left with nothing to buy it.
Charitable associations and societies are the ones purchasing the sacrifices and distributing them among the families as part of the humanitarian aid programs, our correspondent pointed out.
He emphasized that this Eid is particularly difficult for the families of the martyrs, the wounded, and the captives, noting that there are more than 10,000 wounded people whose limbs were amputated, and they are waiting for the reopening of the Rafah crossing to exit Gaza for treatment.
Moreover, there are more than 8,000 captives whose whereabouts are unknown.
Eid has arrived amid looming sadness and agony, especially in light of the closure of the Karem Abu Salem and Rafah crossings and as the specter of famine hits the Strip, especially in the northern regions, hard.
The Imam of the Jabalia Mosque, north of the Gaza Strip, confirmed that Eid has returned to Gaza as its people maintain a strong belief in Allah, exhibit utmost steadfastness, and pay hefty prices for the sake of regaining their land and defending the nation’s sanctities.
He said, in a sermon on Sunday, that the occupation is trying to break the resolve of the people of Gaza to no avail.
Palestinians performed Eid al-Adha prayers on the rubble of the al-Omari Mosque, which was destroyed by the occupation in Gaza City.
The Imam stressed that the Palestinian Resistance will continue to deal heavy blows to the occupation, “which prevents us from performing our religious rituals.”
Gaza City, they perform Eid al-Adha prayer next to the debris of the destroyed Al-Omari Mosque pic.twitter.com/JlubOKNg4W
— M.Moieen🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@MoieenMahmoud) June 16, 2024
Others, in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, performed the Eid prayers amid the rubble of their destroyed homes and inside tents, while Palestinian women prepared the Eid sweets.
💔🇵🇸Palestinians perform Eid al-Adha prayers among the demolished houses in Khan Younis city south of Gaza Strip.
Video by: Mariam Dagga. pic.twitter.com/YEhv8t3g9T
— 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐦 (@Malcolm_Ishmeal) June 16, 2024
Despite the destruction, Palestinian women make Eid cakes in Khan Younis. pic.twitter.com/hi8JnQOnkY
— 🔻 mari 🔻 (@marisaturno_) June 16, 2024
In the north, where the specter of famine looms the largest, the Eid prayers were also held in several areas, especially in al-Faluga in the Jabalia camp, where Palestinians prayed in the open.
Eid al-Adha prayer in Al-Faluga, northern Gaza Strip pic.twitter.com/lQIIX0dqhg
— shameen suleman (@shameensuleman) June 16, 2024
Likewise, Eid prayers took place inside the Emirati field hospital, south of the Gaza Strip, with the wounded and the medical staff, and at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City.
Eid prayer from inside the Emirati field hospital with the wounded and medical staff in southern Gaza pic.twitter.com/yqkfwOFAaC
— shameen suleman (@shameensuleman) June 16, 2024
