Palestinians try to hold on to Eid happiness amid devastation in Gaza
Palestinians here in Deir el-Balah are praying in public areas where they are surrounded by destruction and devastation. They came here today to pray and at the same time to congratulate each other for Eid al-Adha and to bring a sense of hope that they are still clinging to their homeland.
Typically, Palestinians celebrate this holiday by meeting their families and sharing large meals. But those meals are no longer affordable, as more than half of Gaza’s population is on the brink of famine.
Palestinians are trying to do their best, despite Israel’s ongoing aggression, to bring happiness to young children, as many of them will wake up today and celebrate Eid without their parents.
Palestinians hold Eid al-Adha prayers by the ruins of the Al-Rahma mosque in Khan Younis on June 16
Relentless attacks, hunger grip Gaza on Eid day
The Israeli military has aggressively attacked western areas of Rafah city, including the Saudi neighbourhood and Tal as-Sultan, where hundreds of families are trapped.
The attacks have destroyed many homes and public facilities, pushing people into a state of panic.
In the central area of Gaza, mainly eastern Deir el-Balah City, artillery shelling … targeted areas where the Israeli military claimed Palestinian fighting groups had “used infrastructure”, without providing further information.
Those attacks have pushed people into further internal displacement; in the northern part of the Strip, people are not only struggling to deal with unpredictable falling bombs and attacks on their homes… but also the spread of dehydration and hunger.
This is happening on the first day of Eid, where we’re looking at hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian families, many of them in mourning.
UNRWA organises Eid festivities for children in Gaza
Despite a shortage of aid supplies, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is working to hold festive Eid activities for displaced children in al-Mawasi, a designated evacuation zone near Khan Younis.
Most families in Gaza, impoverished and repeatedly displaced by Israel’s eight-month war, are unable to enjoy typical Eid traditions, including sacrificing a livestock animal or purchasing gifts and clothes for children.
This #EidAlAdha, @UNRWA teams are working to give some relief to children in #Gaza despite everything they are going through.
This is today in Mawasi Khan Younis, where our dedicated colleagues are organising play activities to bring a bit of joy to children. pic.twitter.com/RkBfx6p4Ih
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) June 16, 2024
Israeli forces assault worshippers near Al-Aqsa Mosque: Report
Israel’s military has imposed tight restrictions on entry to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, entering its courtyard to carry out security checks and stopping thousands of worshippers from entering, according to the Wafa news agency.
Israeli forces also assaulted some worshippers on their way to the holy site and upon leaving it, said Wafa.
Despite the heavy-handed security, more than 40,000 people have performed Eid prayers at the mosque, according to the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf that oversees the site.
Palestinians pray on the first day of Eid al-Adha on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
40,000 Muslims mark Eid at Al-Aqsa Mosque, less than half of 2023’s figures
According to the Wafa news agency, Israeli forces assaulted worshippers both on their way to the mosque and as they were leaving, as tensions in the occupied West Bank remain high due to the war on Gaza.
But Sunday’s numbers pale in comparison to 2023’s estimate of 100,000 worshippers who managed to pray despite Israeli security forces’ aggression. Last year, Israeli police stormed the holy compound, forcing people out of the Bab ar-Rahma prayer area and arresting some, according to local sources.
