Palestinians welcome the month of Ramadan in a bleak atmosphere amid tight security measures from Israeli police and the specter of war and hunger in Gaza, with negotiations for a ceasefire stalling. Among the rubble of Gaza, where half of the population of 2.3 million resides in the southern city of Rafah, many live in plastic tents and face severe food shortages, creating a gloomy mood.
Maha, a mother of five, stated that she has not prepared for Ramadan, saying, "We have been fasting for five months." She added via a messaging app from Rafah, where she lives with her family, "There is no food; we only have some canned goods and rice, and most food items are being sold at exorbitant prices," according to Reuters.
In contrast, Nihad, a grandmother who was displaced with her family in Gaza, said, "Ramadan is a blessed month, even though this year is not like every year, but we are steadfast and patient, and we will welcome the month as usual with decorations, songs, prayers, and fasting." However, she expressed hope that next Ramadan would come without destruction and siege on Gaza, and that everyone would be in a better situation.
Philippe Lazzarini, the director general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), wrote in a post on X that "a ceasefire must be enacted during Ramadan for those who are suffering the most," referring to the people of Gaza.
For the residents of Gaza, Ramadan comes "amid widespread severe hunger and continued displacement, fear, and anxiety amidst threats of a military operation in Rafah." Meanwhile, in the West Bank, which has witnessed unprecedented violence for over two years with a recent surge due to the outbreak of war in Gaza, the risks remain extremely high. Troubled cities like Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nablus are bracing for further clashes amid Israeli mobilization.
UNRWA confirmed again on Sunday that hunger is rampant throughout the besieged Palestinian territory, noting that the situation in northern Gaza is tragic, where ground aid is being blocked despite repeated calls for assistance. It is noteworthy that nearly 300,000 Palestinians in the northern sector have been deprived of United Nations relief trucks for nearly a month, amidst international warnings of the looming threat of famine over thousands of besieged Gazans.
