The Picture Show : NPR

0 0 2 minutes read

https://www.profitableratecpm.com/f4ffsdxe?key=39b1ebce72f3758345b2155c98e6709c

Palestinians gather in Gaza City to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, with Eid prayers. Israeli airstrikes prevented such rallies last year and the year before during the war against Hamas.

Anas Baba/NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

Anas Baba/NPR

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Many Muslims celebrate the start of Eid al-Fitr on Friday to mark the end of Ramadan, a month-long day of fasting.

During two years of war, the streets of Gaza were shaken by the sound of deadly Israeli airstrikes. Eid was muted.

This year, a fragile ceasefire allowed Palestinians to gather again for Eid prayers. They listened to sermons among the rubble of mosques and destroyed houses. Hamas police secured the streets and welcomed the children.

Despite ongoing difficulties, glimpses of joy and small luxuries also appeared: children were dressed in colorful new clothes, friends posed for selfies and Eid prayers echoed through the streets.

The holiday comes as Israel further restricts the entry of aid to a single, partially open crossing. About 200 trucks have entered Gaza daily since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran, according to Israel.

That’s just a fraction of the 600 trucks needed, according to U.N. aid agencies, to reach all of Gaza’s 2 million residents, most of whom live in makeshift tents and rely on aid to survive.