‘No Feasts, No Joy’: War and Hunger Cast Shadow Over Eid in Gaza | ChatZyr

Eid-ul-Adha arrived in the Gaza Strip this year without the celebrations, family feasts and festive traditions that once defined one of the holiest occasions in the Muslim world, as war, displacement and hunger continue to devastate daily life across the enclave.

Children who would normally wear new clothes and receive gifts instead spent Eid in overcrowded shelters and damaged neighbourhoods, while many families said even basic food items had become impossible to afford.

“I go to the market only to look around because I cannot afford to buy anything,” Palestinian resident Nadia Abu Shamala told AFP from Deir al-Balah.

“Whenever I ask about prices, I return heartbroken,” she said.

The 40-year-old mother, displaced from northern Gaza after Israel’s military operations in the territory, said this year’s Eid came with “none of the joy we once knew in Gaza.”

Traditional signs of Eid, including sacrificial sheep, sweets and family gatherings, were either absent or drastically reduced as soaring prices and shortages pushed many households deeper into desperation.

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned of worsening hunger, collapsing healthcare services and severe shortages of food, medicine and clean water across Gaza amid the prolonged conflict. Markets that once bustled with Eid shoppers now stand largely empty, while many residents remain focused solely on survival.

Despite the hardship, Palestinians across Gaza continued to gather for Eid prayers where possible, with many describing faith and community solidarity as their only remaining source of comfort during the crisis.

The sombre scenes have become a stark symbol of how conflict has transformed even moments of religious celebration into reminders of loss, displacement and uncertainty.

Why it matters now:

The muted Eid celebrations in Gaza underscore the deepening humanitarian catastrophe facing civilians as conflict, displacement and economic collapse continue to affect millions across the territory.

Published on Chatzyr.net

Written By Editorial Desk | Team Chatzyr