- Title: RELIGION-RAMADAN/PALESTINIANS Palestinians light up the streets for Ramadan
- Date: 18th June 2015
- Summary: JABALIYA, GAZA (JUNE 17, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CARS PASSING BY HUGE LANTERN WRITINGS (Arabic) ON LANTERN THAT READS: 'MY RIGHT IS TO LEARN' AND 'MY RIGHT IS TO PLAY' RESIDENT OF GAZA, YEHIA AL-MADHOUN SPEAKING TO MAN NEAR LANTERN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GAZA RESIDENT, YEHIA AL-MADHOUN SAYING: ''This is a good initiative by 'Vulnerable Group's Care' centre which shows tha
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2015 13:00
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- Story Text: Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza celebrated the arrival of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan on the eve of Wednesday (June 17) by lighting fireworks and decorating the streets.
In Gaza, a large lantern was placed in Jabaliya city, where people gathered around it to celebrate the start of the holy month.
Resident of Gaza, Yehia al-Madhoun, said the lantern holds a special symbolism.
''This is a good initiative by 'Vulnerable Group's Care' centre which shows that the Palestinian people want to be happy. Palestinian people want to live a safe and peaceful life, and that the Palestinian people have the right to live like any other people around the world. This lantern shows civil and political rights of civilians," Yehia al-Madhoun said.
Another resident of Gaza, Khalil al-Halabi, said that despite what the Gazans went through last year, they are celebrating Ramadan this year.
"We suffered last year but this year we will celebrate (Ramadan) despite all that we have been through to send a message to the world that the Palestinian children want to live in peace and safety, like all the other children in the world," Khalil al-Halabi said referring to the war in July-August last year between Israel and the Hamas Islamists that run Gaza which lasted for 50 days, in which more than 2,100 Palestinians and 70 Israelis were killed.
Israel imposes a blockade on the Gaza Strip after the Islamist movement Hamas won power there in elections in 2006, and both Egypt and Israel maintain tight controls on the movement of goods and people in and out of the territory.
In the West Bank city of Ramallah, a big lantern was also placed downtown along with a big tree that was decorated with lights and Ramadan decorations.
Resident of Ramallah, Jawad Qundah, said that his wish is to see all the Palestinian prisoners freed from the Israeli jails.
"People are welcoming Ramadan with smile and joy. People are prepared for Ramadan and very happy for its arrival. I greet all the Palestinians and hope that by the coming Eid, after Ramadan, we see our strong prisoners freed from the Israeli occupation jails. Hoping for the Palestinian state and Jerusalem as its capital," Jawad Qundah said.
In Jerusalem, Ramadan lanterns, lights and decorations were hung around the city.
Palestinians gathered near Damascus Gate to celebrate the arrival of the month by lighting small lanterns and walking towards the old city in a big parade.
They joined many of the world's Muslim community, some one billion people in more than 50 countries, who are preparing to observe the sacred month, which started on Thursday (June 18).
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar. Muslims around the world believe that it's also the month when the Koran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed.
During Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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