Ramadan in Gaza: Resilience Amidst Displacement Tents and a Truce Without Security

On the eighth day of the holy month of Ramadan, the Gaza Strip is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis. Fasting is intertwined with loss, and the usual rituals of the holy month are replaced by scenes of displacement, destruction, and a collapsing healthcare system. This occurs under a fragile truce that has failed to end the devastating consequences of a genocidal war whose effects continue to weigh heavily on the lives of more than two million Palestinians.

A Health Catastrophe Threatens Thousands of Patients
The health sector tops the list of humanitarian priorities in the Strip. The United Nations has warned that more than 18,500 patients and wounded individuals urgently need medical evacuation outside Gaza, including approximately 4,000 children, amidst the near-total collapse of the healthcare system.

Hospitals are operating beyond capacity and suffering from severe shortages of medicine, fuel, and medical supplies, while intensive care units and neonatal units are at risk of shutting down. Critical cases include victims of the bombings, cancer patients whose treatment protocols have been disrupted, and patients with kidney failure and complex deformities that cannot be treated within the Gaza Strip.

The restrictions imposed on crossings and the slow pace of medical coordination remain a major factor putting thousands of lives at risk.

A worsening humanitarian and food crisis: In parallel with the collapse of the health system, living conditions are deteriorating further after the World Central Kitchen announced it was halting operations due to a drastic reduction in food aid deliveries. The number of daily supply trucks has dropped from 25 to just five.

It is estimated that approximately 90% of the Gaza Strip’s population now relies on limited humanitarian aid, while thousands of families struggle to obtain tents or temporary shelters, amidst the continued ban on the entry of housing and reconstruction materials.

Experts warn that the sector is nearing a widespread food crisis if restrictions on aid flow continue.

Ramadan without its usual character: Ramadan in Gaza is no longer a season of visits and communal meals, but has become a daily test of patience. Thousands of families are observing the month in displacement tents instead of their homes, while the names of those who are absent are more present on the iftar table than the food itself.

Markets have seen a limited revival, but this is met with almost no purchasing power due to unemployment and the loss of income sources. Many families resort to charity kitchens to secure their daily iftar meal.

Despite the ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since October 2015, the sense of security remains absent, with casualties and repeated violations on the ground continuing.

Ramadan behind bars: In enemy prisons, approximately 70 Palestinian female prisoners are spending Ramadan in harsh detention conditions inside Damon Prison. Among them are mothers and minors, deprived of visits and adequate healthcare.

Human rights organizations document food shortages and poor quality, the prevention of Ramadan calendars from being brought in, and deliberate medical neglect, all of which exacerbate the suffering of female prisoners during the holy month.

The number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons is approximately 9,300, who endure detention conditions described by human rights organizations as harsh and inhumane.

Al-Aqsa: The Presence of Faith Despite Restrictions
Despite the stringent Israeli measures, nearly 40,000 worshippers performed the Isha and Taraweeh prayers at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, in a scene reflecting the Palestinians’ adherence to their religious rituals despite restrictions, arrests, and the denial of entry to a number of young men.

The mosque witnesses a large influx of worshippers during Ramadan, amidst the continued age restrictions and military checkpoints imposed on those coming from the West Bank.

Catastrophic Figures
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the death toll from the Israeli offensive since October 2013 has risen to more than 72,000 martyrs and 171,000 injuries, in addition to thousands missing and widespread destruction affecting most areas of the Gaza Strip.

Despite the truce, human rights organizations confirm the continuation of Israeli violations and the targeting of civilians, which deepens the humanitarian crisis and delays any genuine path to recovery and reconstruction.

Urgent Appeals
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stressed that protecting civilians and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid is a pressing priority, calling for a safe environment for humanitarian workers and the continued flow of relief support.

Gaza’s Resilience… Despite the Siege and Destruction
Amidst displacement camps, overwhelmed hospitals, closed prisons, and the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque filled with worshippers, Palestinians are observing Ramadan this year with resilience, not tranquility. A truce without certainty, an open-ended humanitarian crisis, and a people continuing to persevere despite the siege and destruction, awaiting a breakthrough that will end years of suffering.