While most of the Muslim faithful globally were celebrating a joyous Eid Al Fitr, the reverse was once again the case for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as they faced a sombre Eid Al Fitr, grappling with severely limited food resources and ongoing Israeli airstrikes whose end seems not to be in sight soon. On this day, which signifies the conclusion of Ramadan, many gathered for prayers outside destroyed mosques, while at least 20 Palestinians lost their lives yesterday, the majority being women and children. Eid Al Fitr is traditionally a time of celebration, where families come together for festive meals and purchase new clothing for their children; however, for the majority of Gaza's two million residents, the focus has shifted to mere survival. Earlier in the day, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza did prayers atop the rubble of destroyed mosques, in overcrowded shelters, and beside the ruins of their homes, as Israel’s ongoing war left no room for traditional celebrations. Israeli airstrikes continued through the early hours yesterday, targeting various areas across the besieged enclave, resulting in several casualties. Despite the destruction, displaced Palestinians gathered amid artillery shelling and heavy gunfire from Israeli forces to perform the prayers, recite takbirat (chants glorifying Allah), and exchange greetings for the Eid, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. But the holiday’s usual festive traditions, such as sharing sweets, giving gifts to children, and celebrating in public squares, were absent. In Gaza City, numerous individuals gathered for prayers within the partially damaged Great Omari Mosque located in the Old City, which has endured Israeli airstrikes throughout the ongoing conflict that commenced nearly 18 months ago. Simultaneously, in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, displaced Palestinians observed Eid prayers within a temporary shelter at a school accommodating families from the eastern parts of the city. Witnesses noted that the prayers and takbirat were disrupted by intense gunfire originating from Israeli military positions located to the east of the city. With more than 50,200 Palestinians already killed, mostly women and children, and over 114,000 injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 2023, it is time for the world to stand up and put an end to this despicable act. Gaza and its citizens deserve lasting peace and tranquility, and the time for it is NOW.
