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It's Eid, but no one is smiling in Gaza

Middle East Eye photographer speaks to Palestinians in Gaza about their first day of the Muslim Eid feast
Displaced Palestinians spending their Eid in a school-turned-shelter in Gaza (MEE/Mohamed Asad)

"I have been displaced from Salatin neighbourhood in the north of the Gaza Strip. I want return home, life is difficult here. It is a bitter Eid, we lack the most basic of our belongings. There are more than four families living in a single classroom." - Haja Ghalya Zayed, 65 years old.

Haja Ghalya Zayed (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

"Do you call this Eid? What Eid are you talking about? Planes above us and the bombing continues. Last Eid I was at my house, I had my toys, I played with my cousins in the streets. We went to the park, played on the swings. We visited our relatives, uncles and aunts - but this year it's completely different: there is nothing to enjoy now, no toys. We are afraid to get out of the [shelter] school because it is dangerous." - Ahmed Ashraf, 8 years old.

Ahmed Ashraf (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

"My daughter's head was hit during the Israeli bombing of Shejaiya, it was swollen badly at first but it is much better now. I hope there would be a solution to the conflict and I hope they lift the siege. Enough torture and suffering." - Um Rahf Rahma.

Um Rahf Rahma (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

"They bombarded our neighbourhood and we rushed out with just what we were wearing. It think it was a miracle that we survived. Now I am spending Eid sitting in the garden of al-Shifa hospital with other victims. What kind of international law is that? Do Arabs and Muslims feel our pain? Where do we take our children, without clothes or food? We were afraid of being bombed even as we were praying in a mosque. We urge everyone to help stop this bombardment and lift the siege." - Saad Harb, 65 years old. 

Saad Harb (MEE/Mohamed Asad)

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