Occupied Jerusalem, Feb. 17 (SANA) – For the third consecutive year, the holy month of Ramadan arrives in the Gaza Strip under the shadow of Israel’s ongoing war, which has stripped the season of its traditional social and economic vitality and left residents facing widespread loss, displacement and deepening poverty.
Once a peak period for family gatherings and commercial activity, Ramadan in the Gaza Strip is now marked by destroyed homes, shortages of basic goods and sharply rising prices, as the prolonged Israeli blockade and continued bombardment have eroded livelihoods and weakened purchasing power.
Local traders say markets are barely functioning. One shop owner, whose home and business were destroyed in southern Gaza, told Palestinian media he reopened from a temporary tent but faces heavy losses, limited supplies and frequent spoilage due to electricity cuts and harsh weather. He recalled pre-war Ramadan as a time of thriving trade, in stark contrast to today’s near-total economic paralysis.
For many displaced families, survival now depends on charitable kitchens. A mother displaced from northern Gaza said her family relies on donated meals for iftar, unable to afford even basic food items. She added that fuel shortages and unsafe living conditions make cooking inside tents extremely difficult, expressing hope that the month would pass without further tragedy.
Alongside economic hardship, grief dominates daily life. Thousands of families are observing Ramadan after losing loved ones in air strikes. Bereaved parents say the month, once associated with togetherness and warmth, now deepens their sense of absence and loss.
Economists warn that the humanitarian crisis is compounded by severe economic collapse. Unemployment has surged to around 80 percent, poverty levels have reached unprecedented highs, and prices of essential goods have soared, leaving markets stagnant despite urgent needs.
As Gaza enters another Ramadan amid devastation, residents continue to endure extreme conditions with limited resources, clinging to resilience while facing one of the gravest humanitarian and economic crises in their history.
