MUWASI, Gaza Strip (AP) – As the Gaza Strip continues to bear the scars of ongoing warfare and a strict siege, Palestinians faced significant challenges in celebrating one of the most important Islamic holidays, Eid al-Adha, on Thursday. Traditionally known as the Festival of Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha involves the slaughtering of livestock, usually sheep or cows, as a means of charity and community bonding.
This year, however, the situation is dire; no fresh meat has entered Gaza for over three months. Israel has obstructed food shipments in an effort to pressure Hamas for the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks that ignited the current conflict. The local livestock population has been decimated, with nearly all of Gaza's sheep, cattle, and goats perishing after 20 months of relentless bombardment and ground offensives.
In a makeshift pen within the vast tent camp of Muwasi, some remaining livestock were on display. However, the prices were so exorbitant that potential buyers could not afford them, leaving many simply to view the animals. Children, undeterred by the harsh circumstances, amused themselves by calling out holiday prayers while watching the sheep, goats, cow, and even a camel in the pen.
Abdel Rahman Madi, a resident, lamented, "I can’t even buy bread. No meat, no vegetables. The prices are astronomical." Following the longstanding blockade, which has slightly eased only in the last two weeks, prices for essential goods have spiraled out of control, with most fresh meats and vegetables vanishing from local markets.
In the nearby city of Khan Younis, vendors offered stuffed sheep toys and other holiday trinkets, even as customers departed without purchases due to the steep pricing. Hala Abu Nqeira, a woman searching through the market, reflected on the significant change from previous years, stating, "Before, there was an Eid atmosphere; now with the blockade, there’s no flour, no clothes, no joy." Despite her efforts, she and others have struggled to find reasonably priced flour, further emphasizing the challenges faced this holiday season.
The ongoing military campaign against Hamas has nearly obliterated Gaza's agricultural capacity. According to the United Nations, an alarming 96% of livestock and 99% of poultry are now dead, while over 95% of farmable land remains either damaged or inaccessible due to Israeli military zones, as reported in a recent land survey by the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
After restricting food and supplies for over two months, Israel has recently permitted a minimal influx of aid, mainly flour, into Gaza. However, the United Nations faces ongoing logistical challenges in distributing this aid due to looting and continued military restrictions.
The humanitarian situation has resulted in the displacement of almost the entire population of over 2 million residents. Most individuals have relocated multiple times to evade Israeli offensives. Rasha Abu Souleyma shared her experience of returning to her home in Rafah, which her family had left to seek refuge in Khan Younis. Upon her return to retrieve belongings, she managed to gather a few items, including pink plastic sunglasses and bracelets that she later gave to her daughters as Eid gifts. She lamented, "I can’t buy them clothes or anything. I used to bring meat for Eid so they would be happy, but now we can’t bring meat, and I can’t even feed the girls with bread."
Nearby, a group of children played on makeshift swings fashioned from knotted ropes. Karima Nejelli, another displaced individual from Rafah, expressed her dismay over the prolonged conflict, noting that Palestinians have now observed both Eid al-Adha and the other significant Islamic holiday, Eid al-Fitr, twice amid the war. "During these four Eids, we as Palestinians did not see any kind of joy, no sacrifice, no cookies, no buying Eid clothes or anything," she stated, encapsulating the heartbreak and loss felt throughout the region.
