Gazans struggle to celebrate Eid
Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 9:26 AM
Filed Under:
Tel Aviv, Israel
By Lawahez Jabari, NBC News Producer
JERUSALEM – On the first day of Eid al-Adha, the four-day Festival of Sacrifice which began on Monday, Muslims are expected to sacrifice a sheep and give it to poor people. But Samer Khaleel, 65, who lives in the Jabalia Refugee Camp in Gaza wasn't able to do that, he was waiting for someone else to bring him meat so he could celebrate with his family.
For the last two years Khaleel has been without a job – the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees has been helping him provide for his family.
He was distraught about the fact that he could not provide for his family during one of Islam’s most important holidays when Muslims usually enjoy lavish meals of lamb or beef and give gifts of clothes, sweets and money to family and friends.
"I was wearing my pajamas all day, asking God for someone to bring me meat to cook for my family, five of my children couldn't go out, they have no new clothes, they felt shame," he said over the phone from the refugee camp. "I am hurt."
While the global economic crisis has put a dent in the celebrations of many Muslims this year, Palestinians living in Gaza are particularly feeling the pain because of Israel’s stepped up blockade of the area in response to ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas militants.
No cash
Approximately 1.5 million Palestinians are confined to the narrow coastal strip of land. Gaza’s borders have been closed since Nov. 4 except for five days, including Tuesday, when they were temporarily reopened to allow in essential aid supplies like food and medicine. As a result there are major shortages of basic goods – from fuel to food. And now there are shortages of cash, too.
In an effort to tighten the blockade further, Israel suspended the transfer of cash to banks in Gaza on Dec. 4, which prevents 77,000 civil servants from getting their salaries. So the families of those workers aren’t celebrating Eid either – directly affecting an estimated 460,000 people.
Gaza’s economy runs on shekels, the Israeli currency. Israel says it is blocking the shipments of shekel bills into Gaza because they end up in the hands of the Hamas militants.
Since the money transfers were halted on Thursday, the banks have been closed because bank officials feared there would be violence from angry costumers.
The World Bank warned Israel over the weekend that the cash shortages could lead to the collapse of the commercial banking system in Gaza and that there could be "serious humanitarian implications" for the Palestinians living there.
When Israel temporarily reopened some border crossing on Tuesday, some shipments of diesel fuel for Gaza’s only power plant were allowed in.
Otherwise, for the last month, the power plant has been all but silent – leaving the lights out for most residents – as a result of the blockade on fuel imports. Jamal Al Khudari, the chairman of the "Popular Committee against the Siege" who is also a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, says that the power plant has been operating at 20 percent capacity for the past several days. During the past month, the plant has relied on limited supplies smuggled through the underground tunnels with Rafah, Egypt.
Civilians suffer
Israel has made clear that the intended target of the blockade is the Hamas government, which seized control of Gaza in June 2007, and who they blame for the rockets that continue to target Israel. But the civilian population has clearly suffered the most.
"What pain it is for me," said Fares Massror, 45, who lives in Gaza and has seven children. "I can’t find the words to explain to them why I can’t buy them new clothes for the Eid."
Sari Bashi, Director of Gisha, an Israeli non-profit organization whose stated goal is to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, criticized the halt on bank transfers.
"Blocking the flow of cash to Gaza's banks threatens to completely topple Gaza's already battered economy, depriving 1.5 million people of basic needs and their right to a dignified livelihood," said Bashi. "It is not clear what the government of Israel wishes to achieve by destroying the economic and humanitarian foundations of Palestinian society."
Whatever their intentions, the Israelis have achieved one thing with the blockade, dampened Eid celebrations for Palestinians in Gaza this year.
