FALCON POWERS – A new Eid has dawned on the Gaza Strip, through the window of war, bombardment, and destruction. The hallmarks of joyous celebration, the excitement of the arrival of the holiday, and most of the customary festivities are absent, save for a few simple attempts here and there, in the hope of snatching a moment of happiness, despite the overwhelming feelings of sorrow etched on the faces of people in the streets and alleys.
On Sunday, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip welcomed Eid al-Adha amidst the ruins of destroyed homes, surrounded by rubble, and in an atmosphere of grief over the loss of their loved ones, more than 8 months after the war between Israel and the Hamas movement.
Dozens of Palestinians performed the Eid prayer in different areas of the Gaza Strip, on top of the rubble, on the ruins of mosques, and in the open air, bringing along their children, in an environment devoid of the usual signs of joy at the arrival of the Eid.
After performing the Eid prayer, some Palestinians visited the graves of the victims, while others distributed Eid cookies and pastries to the local residents, especially the children.
Hajj Shaker Za’arb recounted his story with the Eid sacrifice to the Arab World News Agency (AWP), saying: “For about thirty years, I have never missed offering the Eid sacrifice. It was an appropriate opportunity for cooperation between my children, family, and neighbors in the process of purchasing, preparing, and distributing the meat to the poor, needy relatives, friends, and underprivileged families.”
He added: “But this year, my heart is breaking with sorrow for my inability to fulfill this beloved ritual, as the livestock available in the market is extremely scarce, and their prices have multiplied insanely, reaching five to seven times their normal price, and sometimes even ten times.
My financial capabilities have also declined significantly after the huge depletion of household expenses and the new expenses incurred during the war, such as firewood for cooking and tents, as well as the frequent transportation and displacement from one place to another, which has made me unable to purchase a sacrifice this year.”
As for the commercial activity, the Deir al-Balah market, the last remaining central market in the Gaza Strip, tells the story of this year, which, unlike the norm, is characterized by the lack of signs of welcoming the Eid al-Adha season, apart from the broadcasting of Eid takbeers (glorifications of God) through small speakers on some popular stalls and in front of commercial stores.
There is a clear absence of the symbolic representation of the Eid sacrifice, the ram. Moreover, the volume of public purchasing as the Eid approaches has not differed from the previous days before the season, and may even have declined further.
