Everyone thought the Israeli war on Gaza will stop during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. But with the start if the fasting month it become ever more unlikely. Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu says the deadly war on the Strip will continue till he destroys Hamas. But this seems a wish that can’t come true.
The Americans, including Joe Biden, CIA Director Willian Burns and US Senate Intelligence Committee Mark Warren believe Hamas is nowhere near finished but continues to be a formidable force.
Meanwhile civilians continue to bear the brunt of the Israeli bombing nightmare and destruction. Already starved to the point of famine, the civilian population of Gaza say they will not submit to their agonies, stay steadfast and not leave Gaza, which is also an Israeli wish.
They will fast, they will keep up the religious festivities of the month and will continue to have and celebrate a joyous holy month despite the Israeli criminalization they are under of air bombs, missiles from the sea and ground troops’ assaults.
Gaza is no pushover! And the world is realizing this.
The Gaza spirit – as in its people starting with babies, toddlers, youths, men, women and the old will not be broken, despite the massacres. People from Gaza have always been known to be tough, strong-minded, willful, determined and don’t scare easily.
Many say they have been made biologically so to stand up to the Israelis, their guns and bombs.
Despite the Israeli siege around them since 2007, the Gaza Strip was able to develop despite all odds. Israeli sanctions were enforced but that didn’t stop the Gaza spirit.
The following videoclip shows how Gaza city was in 2022, how it developed, the urbanization and the bright lights and how it is now, a colorful conurbations turned dull, bitter, devastated and strewn with debris and wreckage.
Despite all of this, the Gaza spirit burst asunder into the first days of Ramadan. This year Gazans are celebrating Ramadan as displaced refugees. About 1.9 million out of a population of 2.2 million have been turned into internal refugees mostly in UNRWA schools and/or living in tents.
The Israeli war machine – for a deep-seated quarrel with Hamas that needs to be solved once and for all – destroyed the homes of people, their apartments in building, bulldozed and scrapped their roads and made Gaza into a living hell.
But this is not breaking the Gazans as many of the Ramadan videos clips. These show people putting aside their miseries and having a good time. Children in some of these UNRWA schools are putting a brave face on their new situation and life that sees no end of destruction, chaos and mayhem.
In one instance, they are using firecrackers to celebrate the festive season of fasting as best as they can.
As well, the Gaza spirit goes beyond innovation. In one instance, a tent – presumably in the middle of sprawling canvases of Rafah, a city that now houses 1.4 million refugees – one sought to lit his new abode with bright lights and decorations in line with the new season.
How did he do that one can only wounder especially since there is electricity here, and or at best, it is erratic.
These festivities have become a tradition in the Arab and Muslim worlds and this year Gazans are determined not to be left out despite the eyesores, rubble and wreckage made by Israeli massive bombs and missiles.
It’s like saying, it makes no difference if the sound of warplanes hover our heads, or an Israeli missile that lands here or there!
One blogger in Gaza have always said the people of Gaza have got used to this kind of things because of the frequent Israeli wars on the Strip and she would be right.
The social media has been covering much of the Ramadan spirit in Gaza. News websites are talking about this one-month religious fast despite the bombs, war and hunger. What will they eat? Can they eat? If most are starving, it’s just more of the same thing.
In fact, a couple of weeks ago, an old man said, since there is no food, “I will start Ramadan early”. But fasting has a limit, from dawn to dusk. What will happen to many after that? The frequent answer is God will provide!”
Gazans feel bad that none of the Arab and/or Muslims have come to their rescue but still they are determined to keep the Ramdan trappings that is celebrated by approximately 2 billion Muslims around the world.
There is also a sense of tenacity among the Palestinians of Gaza even when they are starving or very little food to go by.
North Gaza is starving. About 700,000 people are being starved to death by the Israelis who have waged a criminal war on them since 7 October 2023 literally destroying and tearing their world apart.
In the next videoclip, you don’t see people giving up and/or senseless because of their hunger but alive and joyful ushering in the annual fasting season on the Muslim calendar. And this is in the north!
Chants of celebrations are heard all over the school.
Dr Asmar is a writer based in Amman Jordan, specializing in Middle East Affairs
