As the world turned its attention to the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, the situation in the Gaza Strip was starkly different. Palestinians found little reason to celebrate amidst relentless Israeli bombardments and a catastrophic shortage of food supplies.

On what should have been a festive day filled with family gatherings, prayers, and vibrant feasts, many in Gaza were forced to hold outdoor prayers in front of the rubble of demolished mosques. Tragically, on the eve of Eid, at least 20 Palestinians lost their lives, a heartbreaking majority of whom were women and children.

“It’s the Eid of Sadness,” stated Adel al-Shaer, his voice heavy with grief after participating in prayers in the central town of Deir el-Balah. His anguish reflected the overwhelming reality for countless families: “We lost our loved ones, our children, our lives, and our futures. We lost our students, our schools, and our institutions. We lost everything.” The deep personal cost is felt acutely by al-Shaer, who lamented the recent deaths of twenty family members, including four young nephews in a recent airstrike.

The recent escalation began in March when Israel ended a brief two-month ceasefire, resuming its intensive bombing and ground operations in Gaza. Since then, the death toll among Palestinian civilians has surged into the hundreds, with no food or humanitarian aid being permitted to enter the territory for the last month.

As the crisis deepens, Arab mediators are scrambling to restore the truce. Hamas announced that it has accepted a new proposal involving Egypt and Qatar, details of which have not yet surfaced. Meanwhile, Israel claims it is advancing its own proposals in collaboration with the United States, which has also been involved in the mediation efforts.

In what many observers are calling a humanitarian catastrophe, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated to alarming levels, with more than 50,000 Palestinians reported killed according to the Health Ministry in the enclave. The urgency of the catastrophe cannot be overstated, with lives in the balance as the international community watches closely, yet struggles to intervene meaningfully.

In this dire context, the people of Gaza, stripped of their joy, are left mourning and fighting for their survival—transforming what is meant to be a festive occasion into a somber reminder of their plight.