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DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians in the Gaza Strip faced a somber atmosphere on Sunday as they began the observance of a typically celebratory Muslim holiday. This year, they confront severely limited food resources amid ongoing turmoil from the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Participants engaged in prayers outside of devastated mosques to commemorate Eid al-Fitr, which traditionally signifies the conclusion of Ramadan, a month dedicated to fasting and reflection. Instead of joyous gatherings and festive meals, the majority of Gaza’s approximately 2 million residents are merely striving for survival.
“This is truly the Eid of Sadness,” remarked Adel al-Shaer after attending the outdoor prayers in Deir al-Balah. “We have lost so much—our loved ones, our children, our lives, and our futures. Our educational institutions, our students, everything has been taken from us.”
He lamented the loss of twenty relatives due to Israeli aerial attacks, including four young nephews who were killed just days earlier, as he expressed his grief.
The recent escalation occurred when Israel terminated the ceasefire earlier this month after Hamas rejected proposed alterations to a previously agreed-upon arrangement. Since then, Israeli airstrikes have claimed many lives, and humanitarian aid has been completely blocked from entering for the past four weeks.
“Everywhere there is violence, dislocation, starvation, and blockades,” said another worshipper, Saed al-Kourd. “We participate in these rituals to bring some semblance of happiness to our children, but the spirit of Eid is absent.”
The conflict ignited on October 7, 2023, when militants from Hamas launched a significant incursion into Israel, leading to the deaths of around 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and resulting in the abduction of 251 individuals. Currently, Hamas is believed to still be holding 59 hostages, with 24 reportedly still alive.
Casualty figures indicate that over 50,000 Palestinians have perished, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not specify between combatants and non-combatants in its reports. In contrast, Israel claims that roughly 20,000 militants have been killed, though it has not substantiated these numbers.
The ongoing military operations have led to extensive devastation across Gaza, displacing nearly 90% of the local populace at the height of the conflict.
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