Considering more than 80 of the Gaza Strip destroyed and the majority of Palestinians displaced, the humanitarian crisis is severe and Ramadan is quickly approaching. Since the start of the assault on Gaza, a region completely encamped in tents, this is the third Ramadan season. In a drone-captured overhead photograph, it is but a fragment of rubble amid the devastation. And there is a narration and a story in every tent within a mother who is waiting for her son to come back, a widow woman, and children who are alone and crushed by suffering and an unforgiving heartache. How did this war rob them of everything with a single pull of the trigger, ordering the cruel death of an entire family?

Memories of Family and Food

There are several stories such as one who survived alone and another who grew up in a loving family setting and made "kunafa" and "sambousek" that his sister used to make His sister was also an expert at creating delicious Ramadan dishes. He has stopped making sounds. After every Asr prayer, a young man who lost his legs would go to the market to buy "dates", "qatayef", and "arugula", which are essentials of the Ramadan meals that Gazans were used to, and no one would cook his favorite meal from the hands of his sister, who became a martyr. Despite the suffering, loss, and absence of warmth, everyone must follow God's instructions and fast during the month of Ramadan. Everything that is significant to the soul is lost in the terrible fight.

Severe Humanitarian Conditions

It's a horrible situation. Millions of meals are vital in the Gaza Strip to cover iftar and suhoor to end hunger. Also, the month of Ramadan is special because hundreds of families continue to live in ragged tents without proper housing. Ramadan is in its third season this year, and the ongoing war has made things worse for the people of the Strip. The war has left Gaza's people in a condition of economic hardship, with little left to them. Securing fundamental needs has become one of the largest issues facing the people in the sector due to the loss of their belongings and the drop in their personal income. This makes it difficult for them to participate in the holy month of Ramadan customs, including providing light for Ramadan lighting. What does it mean Even little details present challenges for everyone .

The Silence of the Camps

We used to welcome the month of Ramadan each year with playing drums, praying, and carrying lanterns, but now all the camps are dark and I haven't even heard the voices of the children. They appear to be stressed out from carrying meals to the shared kitchen and rushing after water. They have grown up while still being youngsters because of these lines, which have caused them to forget how to live in a joyful environment. "What does Ramadan mean!" is what one of the kids would say if you asked them how they got ready to welcome the month of Ramadan. In my opinion, our house has collapsed into trash. I used to enjoy hanging decorations in my room, and my dad used to get me a lamp every year. My father is now a martyr, and his tears come before his words as he desires for the man, he really was not the man he has become.

Spiritual Strength and Fasting

Even though the individuals are depressed and suffering psychological and emotional breakdowns, they attempt to remain composed despite everything that has happened to them, including the anguish and suffering they endure until Ramadan arrives. "Taraweeh prayer" and the pre-dawn supper, which involves of a date and water, are examples of the bare minimum of Ramadan rituals that must be observed in order to fulfill God's mandate to greet the holy month with full acceptance. It is not required to serve the single meal on an expensive plate or to have as many different types of food as they did prior to the conflict when setting up the iftar table. Anything basic within the tent is a response to God's directive to observe a fast throughout the month of Ramadan Most Gazans, young and old, are aware that the occupation intentionally starved them for more than four months in order to refine their souls, teach them patience, and teach them to endure hunger. It is not hard to fast for the honor of God. Even under the most trying circumstances, it is crucial to maintain the spiritual and humanitarian significance of the month of Ramadan and to keep the spirit connected to God in the hopes that the day of freedom will arrive. The people of Gaza are put to the test every day, particularly since the ceasefire has not stopped bombings or the daily deaths of martyrs.

 Um Raed

Walking slowly and heavily, she struggles to make her own Iftar on the first day of Ramadan. Using scraps of carton and plastic, she starts a fire to prepare lentil soup. We all knew her narrative, Raed; almost everyone believed she had become a martyr. Because of the horrific nature of the scenario, her photo became viral on social media a year and a half ago. Like the head of a burned doll, her head was completely fire.

Her children suffered injuries of different intensity in the same incident, but what really shocked me was Um Raed's account of how saddened she was by the death of her 19-year-old granddaughter Alaa. Given that Alaa was raised by parents since she was a small child, she tells her story of loss with great sadness. Alaa won her grandmother's heart and received a lot of love despite having eight other children. They grew up together as the days went by. "Alaa "walked to the kitchen to get some water, but she had no idea that it would be her last. She was startled by a dangerous missile, which took her life when the house's roof fell completely on top of her, leaving her to die silently. Alaa had ambitions of going to college and was a memorizer of the Quran. Her body was reduced to the palm of her hand, and she instantly killed as a martyr. Her grandma was very devoted to her and loved her very much, especially since she was the one who grew her, but death ripped her away from her.

A Mother's Pain and Recovery

I watch Um Raed as she makes breakfast and ask how God brought her back from the dead. How strong she is, really! Her hand gestures were shaky and peppered with tiny shrapnel fragments that had not yet left her body as she carried on speaking. Time has She continued by describing her survival in the Jabalia camp until the very end, stating that she and her family would move slightly from their home anytime she saw danger because of the bombs and artillery and aerial shelling in order to prevent death. She remembered the scenes and then, gasping for air, grieved loudly as though the incident had just happened to her. After eating what little food we could collect for breakfast that morning, I was ready to get out of the house with my family and neighbors. But she was taken aback when a missile struck her home straight; at the time, she was unaware of anything. Her whole body was burned; her legs and feet were spewing blood, and her head and hair were a charred heap. Only skin held one of her nearly hanging feet. Rima, her daughter, had wounds in her arms and an infected skull. "His neck looks like an open faucet pumping blood forcefully, as if he were sitting in a pool of water," the scared mother complained of her son Mansour. And nobody was able to save them. Despite being extremely close to "Kamal Adwan Hospital " they bled for hours, but nobody dared to go near or even get to the hospital She and her children were saved by fate, despite the Red Cross's unsuccessful attempts to save them.

Dreams of a Family Reunion

Alaa's body was still under the rubble. She is currently on the road to recovery, which will enable her to fulfill even her most basic needs, like using the restroom or cooking enough food for herself and her son Raed, who looks for her in spite of the death of his daughter Alaa. He continues to care for his wounded mother with unwavering resolve. After having several operations, her body is worn out and she walks with a heavy. Tears streamed down her face as she concluded her interview with "AL Magmata news pepper " Reema and Mansour returning from Egypt to her arms and breasts is my biggest hope. She wishes to reunite with them around the Ramadan table, as she has done each year, and my biggest dream is for Reema and Mansour to return from Egypt to her arms and bosom. Despite his obligations to his family, her oldest son is the one who assists her and soothes her loneliness. But until her siblings return from Egypt, he never abandons her and puts in great effort to help her and grant her requests. She expects to see them soon during Ramadan because she misses them.

Creating Light from Cardboard

I came to meet "Aya Ali," who had gorgeous, beautifully combed hair and brilliant eyes. Her hair, which had been yellow from burning, was now golden at the front. When I asked her, in jest, what color her hair was before the war, she hesitantly said it was brown. When asked if she wanted to buy a Ramadan light, she sadly said that her parents were unable to do so However, Aya continued because she was able to use her hands to bring happiness. She started collecting egg cartons from the nooks and crannies of the Khan Younis camp where she resides using the most basic tools available. To make a tiny lantern that spreads joy and happiness, she and her buddies cut off pieces of cardboard and put them together. She then asked her older brother to hang the little lanterns from the tent's roof after she had brought her handiwork inside. Her cheeks were flushed, and she started to celebrate the holymonth of Ramadan by dancing and singing.

Children’s Voices and Resilience

"There are no lanterns to buy for Ramadan because there is a war," remarked Janna Al-Ajuri, a little girl, in reference to her Ramadan preparations. We pass away every day. Additionally, my teachers and classmates at school have also been martyred. I'm depressed and don't want to get a lantern. Although she is only nine years old, it appears that she holds the responsibilities of her people. Janna hopes that the war will finish and that we will experience peace and security like everyone else. Youssef Basel, 16, was busy with helping the adults and young children while also hanging decorations throughout the camp where he resides. He is so energetic in the camp that everyone calls out to him. He worked like a beehive with the young people of the camp, not only decorating his own tent. Youssef affirmed that even with the most fundamental supplies, we must cultivate an environment of joy. We used leftover Coca-Cola cans to make decorations. He said that because we are recycling waste materials, he is thrilled about this accomplishment even though it is nothing in comparison to what children around the world have. Unfortunately, given the challenging nature of the conflict, this is all we have. 

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