Islam’s auspicious holiday, Eid al-Adha, was observed in the war-torn Gaza Strip by Palestinians amidst devastation. Residents were seen offering namaz outside destroyed mosques and ruined homes, holding onto the hope that the war will one day end.
After more than 600 days of conflict, Gaza lies shattered, yet hope for better days remains. People gathered to pray in the open, with barely any delicacies to share; families were forced to scrape together whatever little they had for the three-day festival.
“This is the darkest time our people have faced,” said Ahmed Abu Laila from Khan Younis after prayers. “There is no food to eat, no flour to bake bread, no safe shelter, no places to pray peacefully, no homes to return to, no beds to rest on… The suffering is beyond words.”
Another resident, Fatima al-Kurd, shared, “This Eid feels different — heavy with loss and uncertainty. Many of us don’t have enough food or shelter to celebrate, but we hold on to hope that next year will bring peace and better days for our families.”
Many residents have wished to visit Saudi Arabia for the traditional pilgrimage, but for the second consecutive year, it has been difficult.
This deadly war launched on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages by Hamas militants; 56 hostages remain captive to this day.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel has mercilessly killed 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Large parts of Gaza have been devastated, and nearly 2 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced.
The situation is worse than imagined. For more than two months, food supplies have been blocked from entering Gaza. Only recently has the U.N. managed limited access, but movement remains highly restricted, severely limiting distribution.
On Thursday, a report released by the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) based in Rome confirmed that by September, an acute food insecurity crisis will arise in Gaza, leaving nearly 500,000 people with nothing to eat — leading to widespread malnutrition and starvation.
“This means the risk of famine is really touching the whole of the Gaza Strip,” said Rein Paulson, director of the FAO office for emergencies and resilience, in an interview.
The cruelty continues: over the past two weeks, innocent people gathering for food have been shot dead. A Gaza hospital official reported, “More than 8 people have been shot in open fire.”
The U.N. confirmed on Friday that food distribution centers have been closed due to escalating violence. People have been urged to stay indoors for safety, and authorities will announce when redistribution resumes.
