As Ramadan 1446 draws near, Gaza faces a grim reality, with destruction dominating the landscape and sorrow casting shadow over its people. What was once observed as a time of joy, unity, and compassion has turned to a season of hardship, sorrow, and uncertainty for the second consecutive year, as Gaza remains exhausted by war and trapped in dire humanitarian crises.

People of Gaza are bracing for another challenging month of fasting, this time under circumstances far more difficult than the last. With ongoing blockade, destruction, and widespread suffering, Ramadan in Gaza this year is poised to be a reflection of the resilience of its people amidst devastation. For many in Gaza, the holy month of Ramadan had always been a time of gathering with family and friends, and engaging in religious rituals. Markets would traditionally overflow with people and adorn with products like dates, juices, sweets, and spices. Streets would light up with colourful decorations, and mosques would be filled with worshipers in night prayers and lessons.

However, in 2025 /1446, these familiar scenes are largely absent. Empty Streets and Missing Decorations
One of Gaza’s shops before Ramadan Typically, markets would bustle with people, and streets would shine with lanterns and festive lights (fawanis). This year, Ramadan decorations were not imported, and the atmosphere is gloomy. Occupation destroyed all merchant warehouses that held goods worth millions of dollars, leaving no space for celebration.

Empty streets and missing decorations

In shopping centres that were once filled with deli, dates, drinks, etc. festive decorations are absent out of respect for the ongoing tragedy. This year, no one has hung decorations, as the focus is on mourning, with martyrs, the wounded, and the missing people. Moreover, in wake of the severe destruction caused by ongoing aggression, markets are struggling to meet even basic needs. Prices of available commodities have skyrocketed, making it nearly impossible for most families to afford their needs. Unemployment rate is at an all-time high, with most people unable to earn a living due to the crumbling economy. As such, many families in Gaza face Ramadan without the ability to properly prepare for it, let alone enjoy its traditional celebrations.

Soaring Prices and Collapse of Purchasing Power

Although some essential goods have been allowed into Gaza, high prices have made them unaffordable for the residents, who have lost their livelihoods due to destruction of the economy. There is no purchasing power left; people have lost their jobs and can no longer afford even basic necessities.

Challenges of the Homeless

As markets face unprecedented stagnation, many families who lost their homes are preparing to spend Ramadan in tents. Thousands of families, displaced by the war following Al-Aqsa Storm, now live in tents. For many, this is the second time that they are observing Ramadan without a home. People stand in long queues for hours to receive food and walk long distances to secure clean drinking water.

Destruction of Mosques: How will night prayers be held?

Religious observances too have been impacted, as the occupation has destroyed all mosques around them. People are unsure about how they would perform night prayers. Gaza was home to many mosques, which have been widely destroyed. Reports indicate that more than 800 mosques in Gaza have been completely destroyed, and most others are severely damaged. As a result, it will be incredibly challenging for residents to participate in night prayers, a key tradition of Ramadan. The absence of these mosques, which were once gathering places for prayer and community, adds to the overall sense of loss and grief. Despite this, the people of Gaza remain steadfast in their faith, and many continue to find ways to observe Ramadan, even if it means gathering in smaller groups or praying at home.

The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs recently reported that occupation had targeted more than 1,109 mosques, with 834 completely destroyed—representing 89% of Gaza’s mosques— making it extremely difficult to hold prayers.

Economic Collapse in Gaza: 80% Unemployment and 100% Poverty

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the war has caused a severe economic collapse, with GDP falling by 82%,and unemployment soaring to 80%, making this Ramadan the toughest yet. After 470 days of war, poverty has reached 100%, leaving Gaza’s residents entirely dependent on aid.

Typically, elsewhere, Ramadan witnesses an increase in consumption, but in Gaza today, people do not ask about prices; they simply ask, “Is there food available at all”?

Humanitarian Aid: Gaza’s Lifeline

Despite a “truce” coming into effect on January 19, 2025, the occupation continues to block the flow of aid, worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Families living in tents face dual hardship of limited access to basic necessities such as food and clean water, as well as lack of electricity and fuel to cook or preserve food. For these families, survival is their current priority, and the usual joy of Ramadan is replaced with a daily struggle for sustenance.

Available food aid is not enough to meet the needs of the population, with hundreds of thousands of families living in desperate conditions. The lack of fuel and electricity adds to the challenge of storing and cooking food.

Hope and hardship

Though the circumstances surrounding Ramadan in Gaza this year are grim, the spirit of resilience remains unbroken. People of Gaza have faced countless hardships over the past many years, and their ability to endure and support one another is a testament to their strength. In spite of challenges they face, they continue to observe their fasts, prayers, and maintain their faith. Even as they struggle to secure food and water, their commitment to the values of Ramadan — compassion, solidarity, and community — remains steadfast.

For the people of Gaza, Ramadan in 1446 / 2025 is a time of fasting not only from food but also from memory of hardships that has marked their lives. It would be a month defined by grief and longing for a better future, as also by the strength to carry on in the face of adversities. Despite darkness that surrounds them, people of Gaza continue to hold on to hope, relying on their resilience and faith to navigate this difficult time. Ramadan in Gaza is not merely about what is missing, but also about what remains — viz., faith, community, and the will to survive.

(Photos taken by author)
(Featured image: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)