What Ramadan has been like this yr in Gaza, from ceasefire to battle

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — It’s 2 a.m. and three younger males stroll by the rubble of a neighborhood destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, beating a drum and singing Muslim chants.

They’re loud, and that is the purpose. They’re waking folks up, reminding them to eat earlier than one other day of fasting begins at daybreak, throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

This yr, these observing Ramadan in Gaza are additionally following the sounds of Israeli airstrikes, warplanes and drones.

Within the second week of Ramadan, in early March, Israel broke a quick ceasefire and resumed battle in Gaza. The Israeli authorities stated it was to stress Hamas to launch Israeli hostages.

Latest Israeli airstrikes have killed practically 1,000 folks, together with lots of of kids, in accordance with Gaza well being officers. Palestinians have evacuated their neighborhoods by order of the Israeli army.

Hope that the battle would possibly finish has been shattered, as Ramadan involves an in depth this weekend.

“This is psychological warfare,” says Issam Zakkout, who doesn’t know whether or not to flee his dwelling or keep.

Palestinians wait in a meals line with empty pots in Gaza Metropolis, Gaza on March 9, 2025.

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A household breaks their quick in Gaza Metropolis, Gaza on March 10, 2025.

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Meals provides are scarce due to an Israeli blockade

This Ramadan, folks in Gaza are struggling to search out meals.

Israel allowed humanitarian help to stream into Gaza throughout the temporary ceasefire in January and February. However for the previous month, it has imposed a blockade on Gaza, barring the entry of all help, even meals.

Israel says it is to stress Hamas. Rights teams say it is collective punishment to civilians.

Support teams are actually rationing provides. The United Nations is pulling a few of its workers out of Gaza.

At one group kitchen, hungry and drained folks wait in a protracted line for a meal of beans to interrupt their Ramadan quick.

Earlier than the battle, Fouad Nassar would break his quick with hen, fish and kebabs.

“Every day we had proper meals. We didn’t need anyone’s help. Now, why am I standing two hours in line for a plate from the charity kitchen?” Nassar stated.

A meal is ready amongst the ruins of Gaza Metropolis, Gaza on March 9, 2025.

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For the primary week of Ramadan, Palestinians gathered collectively in Gaza to mark the holy month of Ramadan with a respite from battle, throughout a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

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Making pizza inside a gutted microwave

Atop piles of concrete particles of her destroyed house constructing, Rana al-Abadi cooks for iftar, the meal that breaks the quick throughout Ramadan.

Earlier than the battle, Palestinian dishes of spiced hen, rice and greens had been served each night time of Ramadan. Now she makes pizza with canned mushrooms, canned corn, canned sauce and canned cheese.

She eliminated a microwave’s insides, and turned it into an oven, lighting a fireplace utilizing foam from mattress mattresses her husband collected from underneath rubble round their neighborhood.

Burnt foam sticks to the dough of the pizza her kids will eat. She has no different alternative.

“Before, Ramadan was full of variety, colors and flavors. Now, we barely have anything,” she says.

Palestinians stroll by the rubble of Gaza Metropolis, Gaza on March 9, 2025.

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Palestinian kids stroll by the rubble of Gaza Metropolis, Gaza on March 6, 2025.

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One week of celebration was dashed by the return to battle

In the beginning of the holy month, some households gathered open air free of charge Ramadan meals, organized by an Egyptian charity.

Now, every day Israeli airstrikes make it too harmful to collect that approach. In battle, there may be nothing to rejoice.

However for only one week this Ramadan, households had been in a position to collect, after months of displacement, at lengthy tables, amongst mounds of smashed concrete and strings of battery-powered lights.

Households that had misplaced a lot within the battle may get pleasure from relaxed high quality time collectively, like a household reunion, consuming a Ramadan meal with out battle.

For a quick second in Gaza Metropolis, Palestinians may collect and break the quick collectively throughout Ramadan with a relative calm of the ceasefire, March 6.

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