Holy day of Islam overshadowed by sorrow and danger as Gaza celebrates Eid al-Adha
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Under the shattered dome of al-Albani Mosque in Khan Younis, mourners huddled together, their voices echoing through the debris as they offered the first prayer of Eid al-Adha. The scene was far from the usual festive atmosphere—families gathered barefoot on broken stones, their faces etched with grief instead of joy.
In Gaza, Eid al-Adha, one of the two major Muslim holidays, is traditionally a time for communal worship, the sacrifice of livestock, and shared meals. But this wasn't just any year.
This year, the usual sounds of laughter and celebration were replaced by the haunting buzz of Israeli drones overhead. The air was heavy with sorrow, not the sweet aroma of cooking meat.
"We don't eat meat, we don't share in the usual joy," Eftarag Abou Sabaa told our team in Khan Younis. "Instead, we remember those lost in the war."
In the cemetery, families paid their respects to loved ones interred there. Graveyard greetings replaced the traditional exchange of gifts, as mourners gathered around tombstones, their faces a shadow of what they once were.
Heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant hum of Israeli drones.
"This is not a joyous Eid," Ahmed Darwish, a resident displaced from Rafah to west Khan Younis, told us as he stood beside the graves. "This is an Eid of mourning and pain. Our homes, our lives—they've been shattered."
Reda Abdel Rahim Eljara had already lost her husband and one of her sons. This Eid brought another tragedy: she lost two more sons and her daughter-in-law.
"Three months ago, my son got married," she told us. "Today, he is gone."
Umm Ahmad Al-Qatati, too, knew the pain of loss. Her 11-year-old son, Omar, was shot as he prepared for the Eid visit with his father.
"He was excited for Eid morning," she said. "But instead, he joined his loved ones in the morgue."
Israeli strikes continued into the second day of Eid al-Adha. According to Gaza's health ministry, more than 95 people had been killed and over 300 injured in the last 48 hours.
Yet, among the ruins, there was still hope.
Thaer al-Salmi, a 14-year-old boy, continued to pray at the remnants of al-Albani Mosque.
"We try to find some joy in prayer and the spirit of Eid," he said. "I hope this war ends, and next Eid will be a real celebration—one without the sound of bombs and the smell of death."
Additional Insights:Gaza is a region located along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and is part of the Palestinian territories. It has been witnessing ongoing conflict with Israel, which has led to economic hardship, restricted access to essential goods, and widespread poverty within its borders. These factors often limit the ability of residents to celebrate traditional holidays like Eid al-Adha in the way they might wish. Eid al-Adha is the second of the two major Muslim holidays and is often marked by the sacrifice of livestock, distribution of meat to the needy, and family gatherings.
In the midst of political turmoil and war-and-conflicts in Gaza, general-news outlets reported the somber celebration of Eid al-Adha, one of the major Muslim holidays, marred by sorrow and loss. Amidst the usual sounds of laughter and communal worship, the haunting buzz of Israeli drones echoed through the region, serving as a grim reminder of the ongoing crime-and-justice issues.
