Ramadan in Gaza, Palestinian Resilience Amidst Destruction

On Saturday (1/3/2025), Ramadan once again greeted Muslims in the Gaza Strip. The situation remains unchanged. Just like Ramadan in 2024, the people of Gaza are once again observing the fast amidst limitations, uncertainty, pain, anxiety and fear, as well as sorrow from the loss of relatives, children, and loved ones.

Ramadan is full of tests. This is how Fatima Al-Absi (57), a resident of Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, interprets Ramadhan this year.

The war between the Hamas group and Israel, which erupted on October 7, 2023, has torn apart and devastated the lives of Gaza Strip residents in all aspects. Al Jazeera media, on January 15, 2025, citing data from the Palestinian Authority, reported that in 15 months of war, 46,707 people were killed. Among the fatalities, 18,000 were children.

"Everything has changed. No husband, no home, no proper food, and no decent life," said Al-Absi on Saturday (1/3/2025), as her family observed the first day of fasting.

This year's Ramadan began during the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. The Phase I ceasefire temporarily halted a war that had been ongoing for more than 15 months.

However, the first phase of the ceasefire has already ended on Sunday (2/3/2025). The Israeli government stated early Sunday morning that they support the proposal of the U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to extend the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza until Ramadan and Easter.

Meanwhile, Hamas has not yet provided an official response to Witkoff's proposal. Hamas remains adamant about negotiating a phase II ceasefire.

The statement to extend the first phase of the ceasefire from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office came minutes after the first phase ended. Shortly after, Israel announced the closure of humanitarian aid access to Gaza.

Hamas strongly condemned Israel's move, calling it an "act of blackmail" and a "blatant violation of the (ceasefire) agreement."

Compared to Ramadan 2024, this year's Ramadan has many Gazans feeling a little relieved and better with the ceasefire. However, that little relief is still overshadowed by worries and fears about what will happen next.

In addition, there is a clear and unconcealable sense of sadness over the personal and collective losses, the wounds, and the many scars left behind. "We are afraid because there is no stability," Al-Absi said.

I have lost a lot. Life is hard. May God give us patience and strength. (Fatima Al-Absi, resident of Jabaliya, Gaza Strip)

He said he prayed for the war to end soon. He could no longer bear any further losses. He and his surviving family were forced to live amidst the ruins of his destroyed apartment building.

“I have lost a lot,” Al-Absi said. “Life is difficult. May God give us patience and strength.”

Amal Abu Sariyah, a resident of Gaza City, said, “We cannot predict what will happen next.”

“Yes, the country is in ruins and the situation is very bad. But the feeling that the shooting and killing has stopped makes you (feel) that this year is better than last year,” Sariyah said before Ramadan.

Sariyah added that Ramadan 2024 will be very bad for the Palestinian people. Ramadan 2024 is overshadowed by war and displacement. Ramadan 2024 in Gaza began with ceasefire negotiations that broke down, famine worsened across the strip, and there are no signs of an end to the war.

While the current ceasefire has allowed hundreds of thousands of Gazans to flood back into northern Gaza, after the relief and joy of returning to their damaged or destroyed homes, they are again grappling with harsh living conditions and economic hardship.

As a result, to welcome Ramadan, residents only shop for basic necessities and essential foods. Fatima Barbakh, a resident of Khan Younis city, said that her Ramadan shopping was limited to basic necessities.

“We can't buy lanterns or decorations like we do every Ramadan,” Barbakh said.

Life is so harsh that some residents say they are relying on their faith in God to provide for them. “I used to help people. Now, I can’t help myself,” said Nasser Shoueikh.

“My situation, thank God, was better and I didn’t need anything. We ask God to be with us,” Shoueikh added.

Now, even though the war has temporarily stopped due to a ceasefire, Al-Absi and other Gazans must continue to survive and fight, and can only remember the warm and cheerful times of Ramadan, as well as the various activities that accompanied it before the war.

Al-Absi bitterly remembers how she used to break the fast with her husband, how much she misses those times, and how she remembers them when she prays.

"We don't want war. We want peace and security," Al-Absi said hopefully. (AP)