Worshippers streamed into Al-Sariah Square in Gaza City for Eid al-Adha prayers, gathering outdoors to listen to the sermon and mark the holiday in a city still scarred by months of war. One worshipper said they pray with tears filling their eyes, adding that even if missiles rain down over their heads, they will still pray.
For many families, the biggest absence this Eid is meat. One resident told Channels Television that the price of a kilo of meat during the last Eid was around three hundred fifty shekels, whereas originally it was thirty shekels. Local officials say this is the third consecutive year Eid has arrived without animal sacrifices in Gaza, citing restrictions and the continued ban on livestock entering the strip.
In the Al-Rimal neighbourhood, traders have set up makeshift stalls among damaged buildings and tents. Clothes hang inside temporary shelters and half-destroyed shops as families move through the market searching for whatever they can still afford amid Eid celebrations.
A mother told reporters she is trying to create small moments of joy for her children, even if it is only with a few simple items. She said it is not like it used to be, reflecting the drastic change in living conditions since the war began.
Meanwhile, in central Gaza City, a boy named Mohamed walks through crowds carrying a coffee pot, looking for customers to support his family. He said he sells coffee to support his family and that in the past Eid was a day of joy and calm, but now Eid has become an ordinary day like any other.
Another worshipper spoke of personal loss, saying she lost her sons and her daughter's husband is imprisoned. She said she welcomed Eid without joy, without celebration, without any sense of life, and that the world has gone dark before her eyes.
Families in Gaza face severe shortages, soaring prices and widespread destruction as they try to mark the religious holiday. The scenes at Al-Sariah Square and the Al-Rimal market reflect the daily reality for Gaza residents who continue to observe their traditions despite the devastation around them.