Loss, concern and prayers for better days Mark Ramadan's beginning as a fragile ceasefire in Gaza | World

Jabaliya, Gaza Strip (AP)-Before the war, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was a festive time of increased adoration, social assemblies and the cheers for Fatima al-Absi. Together with her husband, the resident of Jabaliya in Gaza said that she had made Ramadan purchases, visited relatives and went to the mosque to the mosque.

But the Israel-Hamas War once knew many of the familiar and valued threads of Ramadan as Al-Absi: her husband and a son-in-law were killed, her home was damaged and burned and the mosque that she visited during the Ramadan said she said.

“Everything has changed,” she said on Saturday when her family watched the first day of Ramadan. “There is no husband, no home, no real food and no real life.”

For Al-Absi and other residents of Gaza Strip, Ramadan started this year under a fragile ceasefire agreement, in which a break was taken for more than 15 months of a war and tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed and the gaza strip was destroyed on the ground. Compared to the last Ramadan, there were many reliefs in the ceasefire – but there is also concern and fear of what next and grief about the personal and collective losses, the raw wounds and the numerous scars left behind.

“I lost a lot,” said the 57-year-old grandmother, who was reduced to existence in the middle of the debris. “Life is difficult. May God grant us patience and strength, “she added.

Israel cut off all help and other supplies to Gaza on Sunday to put Hamas under pressure, to accept a new proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire. Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail the existing ceasefire contract, but both sides stopped explaining the ceasefire.

“We are afraid because there is no stability,” said Al-Absi and added that she prays for the end of the war and that she can no longer endure any losses. She spoke before Israel announced the new proposal and the AID-Cutoff on Sunday.

Although Ramadan is still far from being normal, some in the Gaza Strip said that it feels better in a way than last year.

“We cannot predict what will happen next,” said Amal Abu Sariyah in Gaza City before the start of the month. “Yes, the country is destroyed and the situation is very bad, but the feeling that the shelling and the murder … you (feel) that this year is better than the last.”

The last Ramadan was overshadowed by war and shift and was “very bad” for the Palestinian people, she said. The 2024 Ramadan in Gaza started with ceasefire talks and stood at a standstill, the hunger deteriorated over the strip and no end of the war.

The war was triggered by the attack on October 7, 2023 on Israel, in which the militants led by Hamas killed around 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. According to the Gaza's Ministry of Health, the military offensive of Israel has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, which is not distinguished between combatants and civilians. Wide Gaza strips were destroyed.

Under the armistice, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flew back into the Nordgaza. After initial relief and joy to return to their houses – even if they damaged or destroyed – they dealt with life in the middle of the debris.

When Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which were prepared for Ramadan, bought it for essential household goods and food, some defendants of hard living conditions and economic difficulties, but also said that they are dependent on their belief in God to take care of them.

“I used to help people. … I can't help myself today, ”said Nasser Shoeikh. “My situation, thank God, was better in the past and I was nothing after nothing. … we ask God to stand by us. “

For attentive Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time for daily fasting from dawn to sunset, increased adoration, religious reflection, charity and good deeds. It often brings families and friends together in festive meetings to break fasting.

Elsewhere in the Gaza Strip, Fatima Barbakh from the southern city of Khan Younis said that her Ramadan shopping was limited to the essentials.

“We cannot buy lanterns or decorations as we do every Ramadan,” she said.

Back in Jabaliya, Al-Absi remembered how she quickly broke her with her husband, how much she misses him and how she remembers him when she prays.

“We don't want war,” she said. “We want peace and security.”

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Shurafa reported by Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip and Fam from Cairo. Associated press journalist Abdel Kareem Hana contributed from the city of Gaza.

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