Gaza Faces Bleak Eid al-Adha Amid War and Poverty

Palestinians in Gaza are preparing for Eid al-Adha for the third consecutive year under severe conditions. The ongoing war has led to widespread destruction and economic hardship, turning sacrificial rituals and buying new clothes into luxuries as residents struggle for daily survival.

Tue May 26 2026

Eid al-Adha Transformed by War

Palestinians in Gaza are preparing for Eid al-Adha for the third year in a row under harsh and inhumane conditions. What is meant to be a holiday of family giving and hope now comes with the pain of destruction and hunger. Sacrificial rituals are hardly seen, and the streets lack the usual joy. Ahed Abu Hamadeh, a Gaza resident, lamented, "Where is the sacrifice we used to offer every Eid? Where are the sweets we used to buy?" He added that people barely have money left after repeated displacement and soaring prices. "This year we will not sacrifice animals. We have already sacrificed our children," he said, reflecting the grim reality.

Economic Hardship and Crushed Hopes

While millions of Muslims around the world prepare feasts and sacrifices to mark the holy occasion, families in Gaza await the holiday with empty and heavy hearts. Following months of a devastating war, Gaza faces an economic crisis. Monawwar Mesbah stated that after the war, people in Gaza are facing multiple crises, including rising prices, a collapsing economy, and unpaid salaries. "All of these stand in the way of people trying to feel the joy of Eid," she noted. However, she affirmed, "But despite everything, we are people who love life and hold on to hope whenever we can. We try our best to create moments of happiness even in the middle of hardship."

Loss of Purchasing Power and Struggle for Survival

In the streets of the war-battered enclave, life once buzzed with joy before the holidays, but now the remnants of destruction are evident. People usually shop around during this holy occasion to buy new clothes, but during these times, purchasing power is near zero. Belal Al-Tabatibi, a clothing vendor, explained that today, people can barely afford food, so buying Eid clothes has become a luxury. "Maybe someone buys a pair of pants or one shirt depending on what they can afford," he said, stressing that the situation is nothing like it was before the war. Back then, families used to shop for new clothes every Eid and had money to spend, but now most are just trying to survive day by day. For more than two million Gazans, Eid al-Adha will undoubtedly fall short of being a celebration and full of sorrow.

*Source: YouTube: TRT World (2026-05-26)*

Tags: #Gaza #Eid al-Adha #Palestine #War #Poverty #HumanitarianCrisis