Between Eid Prayer and Funeral Processions.. Gaza Bids Farewell to its Martyrs on the First Day of Eid al-Adha

For the third consecutive year, and amidst a devastating war and humanitarian repercussions described as the harshest in modern history, thousands of Palestinians spread out on the ground in 'Saraya' Square in the center of Gaza City to perform the Eid al-Adha prayer. Signs of exhaustion were evident on the faces of the worshippers, who lacked the usual expressions of joy, and new clothes were absent, replaced by garments worn out by prolonged displacement.

Field sources reported that performing the prayer in public squares was an attempt by the people of Gaza to preserve what remained of life's details and adhere to religious rituals despite the continuous shelling. A woman who participated in the prayer affirmed that Eid remains an important occasion despite the great pain that grips hearts, noting that Gazans are trying to snatch joy for their children amidst the rubble of destroyed homes.

No sooner had the prayer ceremonies and brief exchanges of greetings among the worshippers ended, than the scene quickly turned into farewell and funeral squares. Crowds began the burial ceremonies for martyrs who fell in a bloody Israeli raid targeting the Al-Rimal neighborhood west of the city, transforming the Eid atmosphere into a solemn national mourning that overshadowed the alleys of the exhausted Strip.

Local sources stated that the Israeli shelling that targeted a residential building in the Al-Rimal neighborhood on Tuesday evening resulted in the martyrdom of Al-Qassam Brigades leader Mohammed Ouda. The targeting was not limited to him alone but also led to the death of his wife and two of his children, in a new crime added to the record of direct targeting of civilians and their families.

In the harsh moments of farewell, cries of sorrow and painful questions rose among the mourners who questioned the usefulness of Eid amidst this flowing blood. Instead of families visiting relatives and exchanging greetings, delegations headed in funeral processions towards cemeteries to bury their loved ones, in a paradox that embodies the reality of Gaza where death and life walk side by side.

Official statistics indicate that the ongoing Israeli war on the Strip has resulted in more than 72,000 martyrs and about 172,000 injured so far. These alarming figures reflect the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe experienced by Palestinians, amidst international silence and an inability to stop the killing machine that does not differentiate between a child and a fighter.

Regarding infrastructure, the destruction rate in the Gaza Strip has reached nearly 90%, with entire neighborhoods turned into hills of rubble and debris. Despite repeated talks about ceasefire understandings since last October, Israeli attacks continue at a high pace, targeting shelters and densely populated residential areas.

The scene of the Eid prayer in Saraya Square remains a testament to the will to survive of the Palestinian people, who refuse to be broken despite all circumstances. While planes flew in the sky, the voices of the worshippers chanted 'Allahu Akbar' for Eid, sending a clear message that the hope for liberation and a dignified life is still alive in the hearts of young and old alike.

Whose Eid is this? We move directly from the Eid sermon and the prayer of joy to the funeral prayer and bidding farewell to loved ones.