Gaza Families Mark Eid Amid Hardship
Eid al-Adha in Gaza has been stripped of much of its usual joy, as families mark the holiday amid severe shortages, soaring prices and widespread destruction months after the war ended.
Footage filmed on Sunday shows a market in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood of central Gaza City, where residents walked between stalls and makeshift tents set up among damaged buildings. Clothes traders displayed their goods inside temporary shelters and partially destroyed shops, as residents searched for basic items ahead of the holiday.
Resident Ismail Jada said meat prices had risen sharply compared with previous years, making it difficult for many families to mark Eid al-Adha in the usual way.
“id al-Adha came, and we had practically nothing; the price of a kilo of meat during the last Eid was around 350 shekels, or roughly $100, whereas originally it was 30 shekels for fresh meat. Unfortunately, this time too, there is no meat,” he said.
Nasma Al-Sha’ir said she was trying to bring some joy to her children with whatever simple items were still available, despite the difficult living conditions and falling purchasing power.
“I’m trying to make my children happy, even if it’s just with a few simple items or whatever I can manage to get hold of. It’s not like it used to be,” she explained.
Livestock Shortages Continue Across Gaza
Gaza’s Ministry of Agriculture said on May 17 that residents would mark Eid al-Adha for the third consecutive year without animal sacrifices, citing Israeli restrictions and the continued ban on livestock entering the Strip.
Before the war, Gaza imported between 10,000 and 20,000 calves and between 30,000 and 40,000 sheep each year during the Eid al-Adha season, according to the ministry.
Conflict And Reconstruction Efforts Continue
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led attacks killed 1,139 people, most of them Israeli civilians, and saw more than 200 others taken hostage.
Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza, including air strikes and a ground offensive. At the time of publication, the campaign had killed 72,772 Palestinians and injured 172,707 others.
In January, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced the launch of the second phase of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza. The plan includes moving from a ceasefire towards disarmament, the formation of a technocratic administration and the start of reconstruction.
Article by Viory
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