'Eid of sadness:' Palestinians in Gaza mark Eid with dwindling food and no end to war

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip had little to celebrate on Sunday as they began marking a normally festive Muslim holiday with rapidly dwindling food supplies and no end in sight to the Israel-Hamas war.

Many held prayers outside demolished mosques on the Eid Al Fitr holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. It's supposed to be a joyous occasion, when families gather for feasts and purchase new clothes for children - but most of Gaza's 2 million Palestinians are just trying to survive.

Palestinians visit the grave of a relative after Eid Al Fitr prayers in the central Gaza Strip. AFP

"It’s the Eid of Sadness,” Adel Al Shaer said after attending outdoor prayers in the central town of Deir Al Balah. "We lost our loved ones, our children, our lives, and our futures. We lost our students, our schools, and our institutions. We lost everything.”

Twenty members of his extended family have been killed in Israeli strikes, including four young nephews just a few days ago, he said as he broke into tears.

A Palestinian family stands outside their makeshift tent during Eid Al Fitr. AFP

Israel ended the ceasefire with Hamas and resumed the war earlier this month when the group refused to accept changes to the agreement reached in January. Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of Palestinians, and Israel has allowed no food, fuel or humanitarian aid to enter for four weeks.

'Hunger, displacement'

"There is killing, displacement, hunger, and a siege," said Saed Al Kourd, another worshipper.

"We go out to perform God’s rituals in order to make the children happy, but as for the joy of Eid? There is no Eid.”

A Palestinian family stands outside their makeshift tent during Eid Al Fitr. AFP

Associated Press