Eid in Gaza: Despite immense loss, we deserve to celebrate

Eid al-Fitr has come to Gaza during a so-called ceasefire after more than two years of war, bringing an overwhelming yet incomplete sense of happiness and an uncertain peace, amid haunting memories of loss.

One of the two major Islamic holidays, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. For people like me, who were born and raised in Gaza and have survived repeated Israeli escalations and nearly two decades of blockade, it is a time to remind the world that we are human beings capable of celebrating, just like others around the globe.

Preparations for Eid in Gaza typically start in the middle of Ramadan: streets fill with shoppers searching for new clothes, sweets and nuts, as merchants rush to sell their goods before the holiday.

As the month draws to a close, the smell of sumagiyya, a tangy sumac-flavoured Palestinian stew with origins in Gaza, fills the air, as grandmothers prepare large quantities to share with relatives and neighbours on the first day of Eid. 

Read more: Eid in Gaza: Despite immense loss, we deserve to celebrate