Last weekend Muslims celebrated the sacrificial party Ied-Al-Adha. Similarly in Gaza. But that was different than before. “The joy and the party were not forthcoming. There was only room for stifling hunger and fear,” Saeed Rafiq Al Madhoun tells NU.nl.
Saeed is the point of contact in emergency situations in Gaza for aid organization Care. He is currently staying with his wife and five children in Deir El Balah, in the middle of the Gaza Strip. He coordinates emergency assistance such as food, shelter and other basic facilities.
Last weekend he stayed with his family to celebrate the sacrificial party Ied-Al-Adha. But it is not a party. “Normally our children get during Ied Toys and delicacies. But today we can only hope for a day without air strikes,” says Saeed when the celebration still has to start. “That we don’t lose anyone. That we can feel a moment, just one moment, of safety.”
His words come in hard, Saeed sounds emotional and exhausted. He speaks about terrible situations of loss and pain, but for him they are “daily fare”.
Saeed – who is also a Palestinian from Gaza – tells that he lost a large part of his family, including his cousin, in Israeli attacks three weeks ago. “This sacrificial party is filled with sorrow. We are in constant mourning.”
Memory hurts, but also helps
Saeed thought a lot back to what the party was before the war in the Gaza Strip, he says. “I remember earlier IED days, when we came together with my family and cousins, each other’s children, chocolates and sweet pastries shared, and ate meals that were with love prepared in honor of Ied-Al-Adha.”
Normally a sheep or goat is also sacrificed and they eat the meat. “There were cozy evenings with barbecues and long tables with familyiners.”
But that is no longer, says the 41-year-old care provider. “We don’t visit each other and we don’t cook special meals.” Even the Ka’ak Ma’amoul (cookies filled with dates) could not make saeed because there are no ingredients or gas to make something for everyone.
Hunger is cruel
Nobody moves for everyone because that is simply too dangerous, says Saeed. He and his family stay inside for fear of bombing. Inside, but not at home, because Saeed lost his house at the start of the war. Since then he and his family have been refugees.
On 2 June there was a big attack on a mosque in Deir Al-Balah. People are still looking for their loved ones under the rubble. Saeed and his wife and children survived.
But the bombing are not the only care, it is also hunger. “Even the most basic food is hard to find,” says Saeed. “The famine is cruel and unbearable.”
He says he eats one light meal a day. “I try to save the most for my children.” They are zero to twelve years old and “still have to grow”.
Hope for a better day
“The only thing we could wish for is that this sacrificial party passes quietly, without a doubt pain, without a doubt loss, without a doubt bombs,” says Saeed.
Afterwards he emphasizes that this Ied-Al-Adha gave people no joy or party. “But it did bring a message: Gaza still exists and people are still there.”
Saeed uses that as a bright spot in the pitch -black darkness in which he and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live. “There is still hope and resilience. I still see people who smile, despite the destruction.”
Today Saeed is back to work. As far as he can, he ensures that people have a place to sleep. And he hopes to keep children with one meal a day away from serious famine. But there is not enough food and it is nowhere safe. Yet Saeed holds full: “I hold on to the hope for a better day.”
Last weekend, Muslims Celebrated the Eid al-Adha Feast. So did they in Gaza. But that was different than before. “The Joy and Celebration Stayed Away. There Was Only Room for Suffocating Hunger and Fear,” Saeed Rafiq Al Madhoun Tells NU.nl.
Saeed is the point of contact in Emergency Sitations in Gaza for Aid Organization Care. He is currently staying with his wife and five children in Deir El Balah, in the middle of the gaza strip. He coordinates emergency aid such as food, shelter and other basic facilities.
Last weekend he stayed with his family to celebrate the eid al-adha feast. But it is not a party. “Normally Our Children Receive Toys and Sweets Duration Eid. But Today we can only hope for a day without air raids,” Says saeed when the celebration has yet yet to start. “That we do not lose anyone. That we may feel a moment, just one moment, or safety.”
His words come in hard, saeed sounds emotional and exhausted. The talks about terrible situations of loss and pain, but for him those are “daily fare”.
Saeed – Who is also a Palestinian from Gaza – Says that he will lose a Large Part of his family, including his Nephew, in Israeli Attacks Three Weeks ago. “This Sacrifice Feast is filled with complaint. We are in Constant Mourning.”
Memory Hurts, But also Helps
Saeed thought back a lot about what the feast was like before the war in the gaza strip, he says. “I remember Earlier eid Days, when we come together with my family and cousins, cool each other’s children pocket money, shared chocolates and sweet pastries, and ate meals that prepared with love in honor of eid al-adha.”
Normally a sheep or goat is also sacrified and they eat the meat. “There Were Cozy Evenings with Barbecues and Long Tables with Family Dinners.”
But that is no more, says the 41-year-old aid worker. “We don’t visit each other and we don’t cook special measurers.” Just the ka’ak ma’amoul (cookies filled with dates) saeed could not make, because there are no ingredients or gas to make something for eid.
Hunger is cruel
Nobody Moves for eid because that is simply too dangerous, says saeed. He and his family stay inside for fear of bombing. Inside, but not at home, because saeed looses his home at the beginning of the war. Since then, he and his family have leg refugees.
On June 2, there was Another Major Attack on a Mosque in Deir al-Balah. People Are Still Looking For Their Loved Ones Under The Rubble. Saeed and his wife and children survived it.
But the bombing are not the only group, it is also the hunger. “Just the most basic food is hard to find,” Says Saeed. “The Famine is Cruel and Unbearable.”
He says that he eats one light meal a day. “I try to save most for my children.” They are zero to twelve years old and “still have to grow”.
Hope for a better day
“All we can wish for now is that sacrifice feast passes quietly, Without More Pain, Without More Loss, Without More Bombs,” Says Saeed.
Afterwards, he emphasizes that this eid al-adha did not give people joy or celebration. “But it did bring a message: Gaza Still Exists and the People Are Still there.”
Saeed uses that as a glimmer of light in the pitch-black darkness in which he and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live. “There is Still Hope and Resilience. I Still See People Smiling, Despite The Devastation.”
Today Saeed is back at work. As far as he can, he ensures that people have a place to sleep. And he hopes to keep children away from severe famine with one meal a day. But there is too little food and it is not safe anywhere. Yet Saeed Persists: “I hold on to the hope of a better day.”