Joy in Gaza as mosques, schools reopen after pandemic closure

Mosques in the Gaza Strip reopened on Wednesday after a 70-day closure due to the novel coronavirus, with one worshipper saying he was "overjoyed" despite fears over the pandemic.

“A big percentage of families are employees and since they have resumed their jobs in offices, they have brought their children back to our nursery school,” said Hind Assousi, principal of the Beautiful Smile kindergarten in Gaza City.

A Palestinian man wears a face mask as he takes part in the noon (Dhuhr) prayers at the Al Abrar mosque in Gaza Strip. AFP

Mosques reopened after a 70-day closure due to the coronavirus, with one worshipper saying he was “overjoyed” despite fears over the pandemic.

Wearing a black face mask, an imam in Gaza City led the call to prayer as mosques reopened across the Palestinian enclave with health measures in place.

Ahmed Al Safadi, a Gaza City imam, said dozens of people attended dawn prayers at his mosque. "People's pleasure at returning to God's house is a great blessing," he said.

Worshippers were told to wear face masks inside mosques, which would be regularly disinfected as a precautionary measure, Gaza's religious affairs ministry said. Children and sick people were told not to attend prayers.

Palestinian men wear face masks as they take part in the noon (Dhuhr) prayers at the Al Abrar mosque in Gaza Strip. AFP

In Gaza City, worshipper Khader Mussa said he was "overjoyed" to attend dawn prayers but had also been careful to protect his health.

"I got there just two minutes before the start of prayer to avoid contact with other worshippers and then left at the end, without shaking hands with anyone," the 40-year-old said.

Wearing a black face mask, an imam in Gaza City led the call to prayer as mosques reopened across the Palestinian enclave with health measures in place.

Children and sick people were told not to attend prayers.

In Gaza City, worshipper Khader Mussa said he was “overjoyed” to attend dawn prayers but had also been careful to protect his health.

“I got there just two minutes before the start of prayer to avoid contact with other worshippers and then left at the end, without shaking hands with anyone,” the 40-year-old said.

Some mosques opened their doors 10 days ago for the Eid Al Fitr holiday, but on Wednesday marked a full reopening.

“We are happy mosques have opened,” said Muhammad Hamad, wearing a face mask. “We thank God, who protected us from the coronavirus in the Gaza Strip,” he added.

Agencies