- Title: After war with Israel, a grieving Gaza marks Eid Al-Adha holiday
- Date: 18th July 2021
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GAZAN MAHMOUD ISSA, WHO LOST A DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILD IN AN ISRAELI BOMBING DURING MAY FIGHTING, 73, SAYING: "Our main goal is to get closer to God when we sacrifice and to help the sons of the martyr to get over their painful atmosphere, memories and sorrow. And to help them to feel the atmosphere of Eid and happiness when we sacrifice. Also to help them how to live among people, live their own life normally. We bought them new clothes and we are getting prepared to celebrate Eid." KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (JULY 14, 2021) (REUTERS) SHEEP AT LIVESTOCK MARKET LIVESTOCK MARKET MAN CHECKING SHEEP SHEEP, PEOPLE AT MARKET VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AND SHEEP AT LIVESTOCK MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIVESTOCK MERCHANT FROM GAZA, SALIM ABU ATWA, 50, SAYING: "The latest war made (the situation) catastrophic, the siege has become tighter. There are no exports, the Israeli occupation is making excuses to prevent things that were used to be allowed (into Gaza) to destroy us more. I am a farmer (and I can say that) they are making excuses for anything that can help the economic situation in here." GAZA CITY, GAZA (JULY 14, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GAZA MERCHANT, MOHAMMAD AL-QASSAS, WHO LOST HIS SHOP DURING LATEST FIGHT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS SELLING SHOES NEAR HIS DESTROYED SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GAZA MERCHANT WHO LOST HIS SHOP DURING LATEST FIGHTING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS, MOHAMMAD AL-QASSAS, 23 SAYING: "We used to sell these shoes in the shop for 35-30 shekels (10-12 USD) but now we sell it for 15 shekels (4.5 USD), it is (the situation) is destroyed now. As you can see all merchants here on booths used to have shops in this market but now they are selling outdoor." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT MARKET, DESTROYED BUILDINGS SUNSETS OVER GAZA CITY
- Embargoed: 1st August 2021 10:34
- Keywords: Eid Gaza Israel Palestinians family fight
- Location: GAZA CITY AND KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY AND KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA005EMDAKP3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: For Palestinians who lost loved ones in the fighting between Gaza militants and Israel two months ago, there is little cause for celebration during the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha.
Known as the Feast of Sacrifice, it commemorates for the faithful the prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son to show his dedication to God.
The holiday, coinciding with Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, begins on Tuesday, and Muslims traditionally mark the occasion by slaughtering sheep or cows and exchanging gifts.
For this year's four-day festival, Mahmoud Issa, a 73-year-old retired teacher, bought new clothes for his grandchildren and took them to a farm to choose an animal to slaughter.
But he mourns the death of his daughter Manar, 39, and her daughter, Lina 13, who he said were killed by an Israeli missile that destroyed their house in the Bureij refugee camp on May 13. Manar's husband and three other children survived.
"As adults, we are still haunted by pain, but we must get the children out of this atmosphere and make them live the atmosphere of Eid, so that they forget the pain of losing their mother and their eldest sister," Issa said, sitting next to a large mural of Manar.
Gaza's Hamas Islamist-run government says 2,200 homes were destroyed and 37,000 damaged by Israeli bombing during the 11 days of cross-border fighting in May.
More than 250 Palestinians were killed in hundreds of Israeli air strikes in Gaza that were launched after Hamas began firing rockets at Israel in retaliation for what the group said were rights abuses against Palestinians in Jerusalem.
Thirteen people were killed in Israel during rocket barrages that disrupted life and sent people running for shelter.
In Gaza's livestock markets, breeders and farmers reported poor sales ahead of the holiday. At one market in the town of Khan Younis, some customers loaded animals onto donkey carts to take them home.
"This year, the purchase of animals is weak because of the blockade, war and the coronavirus," said merchant Saleem Abu Atwa, referring in part to tight border restrictions imposed by Israel and Egypt, which cite security concerns for the measures.
"We hope calm continues. It is for the sake of everyone," he added.
At a street stall in Gaza's busy Rimal neighbourhood, Mohammad Al-Qassas laments the destruction of his shoe store in the fighting as he sells goods that he salvaged from the rubble.
The 23-year-old fears that an Egyptian-brokered truce that ended the most serious hostilities between Gaza militants and Israel in years might not last.
"Another war would be a disaster," he told Reuters.
(Production: Fadi Shana, Bassam Masoud, Mohammed Shana, Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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