Eid Amid the Shadow of Iran’s War

A Glimmer of Hope in Gaza

For the first time since the war began in Gaza, Raeda Abu Diya has bought special clothes for her daughter for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This small act of celebration represents a rare moment of joy for a family that has endured years of conflict and displacement.

While a fragile ceasefire now holds in the Israel-Hamas war, Palestinians in Gaza fear that the focus on the Iran war will cause the world to forget their suffering, leading to prolonged shortages of crucial aid. Raeda, a 38-year-old mother of two, lives with her daughter and husband in a tent after their home was destroyed. Despite the challenges, she decided this year to make her children happy and celebrate with what is available to them.

“The shelling is much less than before,” she said, reflecting on the current situation. Her 15-year-old daughter, Fidaa, is thrilled about the new jeans, T-shirt, and jacket her mother got her for the holiday. While she still misses her old room filled with all her belongings, she hopes the upcoming celebration will mark the “beginning of the return of the sweet life to Gaza.”

The Fragile Ceasefire and Lingering Fears

The truce in place since October between Israel and Hamas has seen a drop in violence in Gaza, although there are still regular reports of Israeli strikes and deaths. The Israeli army, which controls about half of the Gaza Strip including all border areas, reported killing three Palestinian fighters in one strike and one firefight in Gaza on Saturday. It also reported killing six more Hamas fighters in a single strike in central Gaza on Sunday.

However, the fragile ceasefire has not brought relief for everyone. Raeda Abu Diya is worried that the US-Israeli war with Iran has drawn focus away from the plight of Gazans. With nearly all of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents forced from their homes during over two years of war sparked by Hamas’s attacks on Israel, many people still live in tents or makeshift shelters in enormous camps, facing shortages as well as persistent fear and uncertainty.

“Gaza is now forgotten and the world ignores the suffering of its people,” Raeda said. Each day, she is glued to the latest news of the Middle East conflict from local radio stations that recently resumed broadcasting. It is not just the current events that weigh upon her: the memory of relatives, including her brother, killed by Israeli strikes, is always with her.

“We are trying to create a little joy, but sadness does not leave us,” she said.

Struggles and Small Joys

For other Gazans, the upcoming holiday only compounds the difficulties they’re already facing. Ammar al-Buhaisi, who lives in Deir al-Balah, is struggling to get enough food, let alone new clothes for his children. He has been avoiding their expectant questions, as any “optimism for an improvement in the situation is diminishing” due to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Hussein Duwaima, whose original clothes shop was destroyed, said life was coming back “gradually” in Gaza. Demand has picked up ahead of the holiday as crowds of shoppers pack makeshift markets. However, due to a lack of supply caused by the closure of Gaza’s borders and steep transportation costs, the prices are high. A child’s shirt can cost the equivalent of between $15 to $30, while a kilo of chocolates can be even pricier.

Israeli forces completely or partially destroyed most of Gaza’s markets during the war, though the market in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood has been partly restored already. Imad al-Bahtimi plays Eid chants on a loudspeaker at his stall to help “attract children and spread joy among the people.” Hamas police officers have deployed again at markets and on the streets of Gaza since the start of the ceasefire, increasing a sense of security.

Resilience Amidst Destruction

Hossam al-Shafa received Eid clothes and sweets for his three children from a local charity. He said that Israel still bombs eastern areas of nearby Khan Younis on a regular basis, demolishing homes. “We are tired of war and destruction,” he said. Despite the ongoing dangers, he and his wife are trying their best to create a festive atmosphere, gathering firewood to bake cakes on their stove.

“These are the best days we have had since the war began,” he said. For families like his, the hope for a better future remains, even in the face of continued challenges.