As the world observes Ramadan, Palestinians in Gaza face unprecedented hardships, displacement, and poverty amidst the ongoing war. Read the full report.
As millions of Muslims around the globe prepare for the holy month of Ramadan with traditional shopping and family gatherings, Palestinians in Gaza are bracing for a season defined by grief, displacement, and severe economic struggle. The ongoing conflict has transformed what is usually a festive and sacred time into a daily battle for survival.
While local markets have seen a return of essential goods like meat, vegetables, and fruit, the reality for most families is grim. Rampant poverty and skyrocketing prices have placed these basic necessities far out of reach for the average citizen. Ahmad Ashour, a local merchant, notes that although people visit the markets, few can actually afford to buy anything. Instead, a vast majority of the impoverished population is forced to rely on food parcels and soup kitchens for their daily sustenance.
Beyond the economic devastation, the human toll of the war has cast a long shadow over the holy month. Ramadan is traditionally a time for community and family connection, but the war has fractured thousands of households. Yasaar Al Batniji, a displaced mother of nine currently living in a makeshift tent, shared her heartbreak over facing Ramadan without her husband, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last year. She recalled how he was the one who typically organized their family’s Ramadan preparations, making his absence profoundly felt as her family navigates the harsh living conditions of a refugee camp.
The physical destruction of Gaza has also severely hindered the spiritual observance of the month. With more than a million people displaced into tent cities, everyday life is fraught with difficulty. Nael Al Doosh, a local resident, highlighted the crippling lack of income and employment, alongside the widespread destruction of local mosques. This structural devastation has left many Palestinians without a communal space to perform their religious rituals, compounding the sorrow of the season.
Entering Ramadan displaced and uncertain about the future has become a tragic reality for the densely populated coastal strip. Yet, despite the immense suffering, poverty, and loss, the resilience of the people remains unbroken. Even in the face of such profound hardship, the underlying spirit of the holy month continues to endure among the people of Gaza.