Above the rubble of homes.. Gaza welcomes Eid with the scent of Ka'ak and defying the siege

The aromas of ka'ak and ma'amoul waft from among the destroyed homes in the northern Gaza Strip, where sixty-year-old Sameera Toman is busy putting the finishing touches on Eid trays. The mother of seven works diligently with her daughters and daughter-in-law, in an attempt to revive the rituals of joy despite the bitterness of loss and the destruction that befell their home.

These days are the first that the residents of the Strip are preparing to welcome Eid al-Fitr after a long period of aggression that began last October. Sameera kneads the dough with great care, while her daughter prepares date balls mixed with sesame, in a scene that embodies the determination to live amidst the rubble.

In front of a glowing oven burning with firewood, family members take turns in the arduous baking process that requires great patience. The family is forced to use firewood and remnants of wooden furniture collected from demolished homes as an alternative to cooking gas, which has been completely missing from local markets for months.

Sameera describes her situation as she wipes sweat from her forehead in front of the tabun, affirming that this season is a season of blessings, even though the celebrations are no longer as they were before the war. Previously, she used to bake huge quantities until dawn on Eid day, but today the effort is doubled and the resources are very limited.

The family's production is not limited to their personal consumption; it has become a simple source of income by fulfilling neighbors' and customers' orders. This work helps the family provide some money to meet the harsh demands of life before Eid, despite the significant economic challenges.

Sameera points out that the demand for ka'ak is still good despite the insane rise in the prices of basic ingredients. People in Gaza are looking for any way to restore the stolen taste of joy, and ka'ak is an integral part of the cultural and social identity of Palestinians.

The repeated closure of crossings has caused a severe shortage of flour, semolina, sugar, and ghee, leading to unprecedented price jumps. Sameera says that there is always something that spoils joy in Gaza, where happiness remains incomplete and besieged by restrictions and complex political circumstances.

Sameera sadly recalls her home-based project that she managed through social media platforms before the outbreak of the last war. She had two kitchens equipped with the latest electrical appliances, and she was able to support her family with dignity before all that was shattered under bombardment.

Now, the family is starting from scratch, as organized and clean work has turned into a daily struggle with soot, smoke, and primitive fire. Her son breaks up pieces of furniture he collected from under the rubble to provide the necessary fuel to keep the manual oven running amidst difficult health conditions.

The residents of the Strip face a real dilemma between preserving Eid traditions and allocating their limited budgets to provide essential daily food. The deterioration of purchasing power and the rise in poverty and unemployment rates have made the simplest forms of celebration a heavy financial burden on families.

Sameera's family suffered a bitter displacement journey, as they were forced to leave their home in the north and head to Mawasi Khan Younis last September. The family did not return to their home until just one month ago, only to find themselves living amidst rubble lacking the most basic necessities of life.

Sameera describes the return to the north as difficult, as living amidst the ruins and without infrastructure or potable water kills the joy of returning. Nevertheless, she succumbed to the desire of her children and family to return to their land instead of staying in dilapidated displacement tents.

The sixty-year-old woman expresses her constant fear of the instability of the security situation, especially with the continued violations and restrictions on the crossings. She affirms that the flow of goods is still unstable, making residents feel as if they are living in a void, awaiting the unknown.

Despite all these worries, Sameera's daughter tries to instill optimism in her mother's heart, asking her to stop talking about politics and focus on the joy of Eid. Sameera smiles sadly and hopes that Eid will bring better days, and that Gaza's suffering with the siege, destruction, and high prices will end.

We have forgotten the meaning of working in the kitchen with order, dignity, and cleanliness; cooking and working are now associated with soot and fire.