Hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims.
Muslims celebrate it by not eating food or water from sunrise to sunset.
But for the Palestinians living under the Israeli occupation, celebrate Ramadan by bidding farewell to their family members as martyrs because of the Israeli occupation.
War on Gaza during Ramadan in 2014
Gazans live every day trapped in what many have referred to as the “world’s largest prison”.
Since the illegal Israeli blockade of June 2010, which prevents Gazans from leaving the city and prevents any international support from reaching it, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened.
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Half of Gaza’s 1.8 million residents are children, all of whom are subject to Israeli imprisonment. 38% of Gazans live in poverty.
And 35 percent of agricultural land in Gaza is wholly or partly inaccessible due to the occupation.
During the month of Ramadan in 2014, the occupation threw two hundred and eighty bombs on the residents of Gaza, especially in residential areas, killing more than five hundred children.
At the time when the call to prayer and the laughter of children should have filled the streets at night, instead, the sounds of bombs caressed them.
Palestinians suffering continues
For Palestinians, the month of Ramadan also offers a painful reminder of the family members and friends who were lost and injured during the Israeli army’s recent invasion of Gaza. The attack began at the start of the holy month of Ramadan in 2014, killing more than 2,200 Palestinians, along with permanently wounding more than 10,000 others over the course of 53 bloody days.
The damage to Gaza’s infrastructure and the economy was equally devastating, with over 10,000 homes completely destroyed, along with structural damage to another 100,000 homes. The only power plant in Gaza was bombed by Israeli missiles, as well as 24 medical facilities, while more than 400 companies were completely destroyed.
Each year, Israel routinely provokes Palestinians who perform prayers just before Ramadan.
Last year, the occupation soldiers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque, expelled the worshipers, threw tear gas, and perpetrated acts of violence.
Also Read: Israeli court’s ruling allowing Jewish prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque
These events at Al-Aqsa during the month of Ramadan led to a violent war in Gaza.
The aim of this violence is to make life difficult for Palestinians. This, of course, angers Palestinians who travel through countless checkpoints to practice their faith, yet are prevented from entering Al-Aqsa mosque while soldiers point their weapons at them – while allowing illegal settlers to roam freely there.
Night Israeli raids have also become increasingly popular during Ramadan. The Israeli occupation forces have been conducting night raids on Palestinian towns since 1967.
Night raids do not stop in Ramadan. Whether in the mosques or at home, soldiers terrorize Palestinian families before, during, and after their fast – or in the middle of the night.
On top of the brutality of the occupation, Israel controls the majority of Palestinian waters, and Israeli settlers burn farmlands and olive trees with the support of the occupation army.
Also Read: Israel is and will always be a crime against humanity
Medjool dates, which are sourced from Palestinian-owned farms in Jericho, are often stolen by the occupation, repackaged, and marketed as “original Israeli dates.” Dates are the cornerstone of how Muslims break their fast globally, as they are believed to be the way the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) broke his fast.
While fasting and waiting for the sun to set, the Palestinians could not obtain food, water, or crops from the land.
Violation against Palestinians in Ramadan 2022
This violence continued this year. Just last week, an 11-year-old deaf girl was hospitalized after being hit by a stun grenade while preparing for Ramadan.
The Israeli occupation forces shot dead Qusi Hamamrah a 14 years old boy in Husan village west of Bethlehem city and Umr Elyan(20) who was shot during the clashes that broke out in Silwad village northeast Ramallah city. 3 Palestinians were killed in less than 24 hours.
Israeli police attacked Palestinians who gathered for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem before dawn on Friday in the holy month of Ramadan, Medics said at least 152 Palestinians were wounded.
Also Read: Israel having free season on Palestinian civilians including Children and Journalists
The Israeli occupation forces detained 400 worshipers and besieged and attacked them in al-Aqsa mosque at least 152 worshipers were injured in the attack, The Israeli occupation forces attacked paramedics, women, and the Palestinian journalist Rami Khateb in the courtyards of al-Aqsa mosque 90 injuries were evacuated from al-Aqsa mosque to the hospitals and only a few injures were treated in the field, Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh described the Israeli police raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque as a “brutal attack on worshipers during the holy month”
