Eid Al Fitr celebrations remain a low key affair for the residents of Gaza amid war, facing famine.

The Eagle News:

Eid Al Fitar celebrations has remained a low key affair for the residents of Gaza amid war, who have uncertain future because of hunger and famine.

Palestinians across the Gaza Strip are marking the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan with no respite from the Israeli military’s deadly attacks.

On Wednesday, the starving population in the besieged enclave was doing its best to follow Eid al-Fitr traditions, but the reality of the war that has killed more than 33,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, does not leave much room for celebration.

“There is no joy or appetite for celebrating the holy occasion because of ongoing situation due to war. Daily our loved ones are being killed in the war and people were suffering from hunger. They have been deprived from basic necessities ” said Ahmed Ali, a shopkeeper in Rafah in southern Gaza.

“Even children have no interest in toys as they did in the past. This is the worst season we have ever lived” he added.

Mohammad Hassan, a displaced man in Rafah, where more than 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering, said, “We are suffering on all fronts. People can hardly survive. They can hardly feed their families. We no longer think of Eid or celebrations or any other form of joy.”

Many Palestinians observed their Eid prayers next to the ruins of the places where they had prayed last year.

Saleh al-Ames, a doctor from Gaza, said his neighbourhood mosque was destroyed by the Israeli military in February and saw many of its worshippers either killed, injured or displaced.

“However, we are holding our ground; steadfast to our rituals despite our deep pain and profound grief. The whole world is watching in silence … but we will … not abandon our homeland” he said.

Israeli military attacks have spared nothing in Gaza, repeatedly destroying or damaging mosques, hospitals, schools, residential buildings, internet infrastructure and roads, leaving at least 26 million tonnes of debris and rubble.