Palestinians in Gaza marked Eid al-Fitr in severe conditions on Sunday, facing food shortages and mourning for children to die in Israel’s latest air strikes. Many people pray outside, demolish the mosque, and strive to find any sense of joy during the festival.
Sadness and destruction
“It’s a sad Eid,” said Adel al-Shaer, who prayed in the rubble of Deir Al-Balah. “We lost loved ones, our children, our lives and our future.” He lost 20 family members during the Israeli strike, including four young nephews a few days ago.
A week after the Israeli attack, the bodies of 14 emergency personnel were recovered in Rafah. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies called it “the deadliest attack on Red Cross Red Crescent workers anywhere in the world since 2017.”
“There is killing, displacement, hunger and siege,” said worshiper Saed al-Kourd. “We go out to perform God’s rituals to make the children happy, but as for the joy of Eid? There is no Eid.”
Armistice negotiations
Israel resumed its 17-month war this month, with surprise bombardment, killing hundreds of people after Hamas refused to change its ceasefire agreement in January. Food, fuel and humanitarian aid have been locked down for a month. Arab mediators are trying to restart negotiations, and Hamas accepts a new proposal from Egypt and Qatar. Another proposal coordinated by Israel and the United States against
The goal of first responders
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said eight of them were found dead and five members of Gaza civil defense. The ninth doctor is still missing. China condemns positioning medical staff as “war crimes.”
Gaza’s Ministry of Health claims that some bodies were bound and shot and killed, urging to promote an international investigation. Israeli troops said firing on moving vehicles without emergency signals, claiming that nine “terrorists” were killed.
Netanyahu’s conditions for ending the war
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that military operations will continue when negotiations are underway. He outlined the conditions for ending the war, including Hamas’ disarmament and resettlement of Gaza’s population elsewhere – Hamas refused and was criticized by human rights groups.
Civilian casualties continue
Israel’s strike on Sunday killed at least 16 people, including nine children and three women, in Khan Younis. Some kids wear new Eid clothes. At Deir al-Balah, an evening strike killed at least two other people.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the war that began on October 7, 2023 has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians. Israel claims to have killed about 20,000 militants, but has not provided evidence. The conflict began after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took hostages of 251 people in Israel, 59 of whom were imprisoned.
The West Bank dispute
Israel’s security cabinet approved a road project for the occupation of Palestinians in the West Bank near the settlement of Maaleh Adumim. Commentators believe this is a step in annexation that undermines the future Palestinian state.
The two-state solution remains an internationally recognized path to peace, but the ongoing settlements and land annexation continues to challenge its feasibility.
