STORY: Soaring livestock prices in Palestine dim joy of Eid
DATELINE: June 29, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:17
LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the livestock market in Gaza
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED ABU ISSA, Ramallah resident
3. various of the livestock market in Gaza
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMMED BADAWI, Gaza resident
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MOHAMMED SHUHAIBER, Livestock merchant in Gaza
6. various of the livestock market in Gaza
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): HASSAN ARAFAT, Nablus-based merchant

STORYLINE:

The Palestinians have felt the pinch of a high cost of living as they celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, after the prices of livestock soared in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In a crowded livestock market in the West Bank city of Nablus, most of the visitors balked at the prohibitive prices even though vendors were willing to accept monthly installments.

After hours of haggling in the market, Mohammed Abu Issa, 59, managed to purchase a little sheep for 600 dollars, but he said that if the "unbelievable" prices continue to rise, he might not be able to buy any sacrifice next year.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED ABU ISSA, Ramallah resident
"I finally managed to buy a sheep and I want to sacrifice it this year."

The situation is not much different in the Gaza Strip, where the high prices of livestock have prompted many to buy them in installments or split the cost with friends.

"Every year we slaughter the sacrifice, but this year we have to buy it in installments because of the bad economic situation," Mohammed Badawi, a man who visited a livestock market in Gaza with his friends to co-buy a calf, told Xinhua.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMMED BADAWI, Gaza resident
"We have no money and there are no signs of buying or selling sacrifices. Unfortunately, due to the lack of money, we are thinking of sacrificing poultry instead of livestock, because we are all suffering from a financial crisis and we do not have enough money to meet the basic needs of our families and children."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MOHAMMED SHUHAIBER, Livestock merchant in Gaza
"Unfortunately, the purchasing movement is very weak in the markets. I have been here since the morning hours and have not been able to sell my sheep. People complain about the high cost, but in fact, the prices of fodder have risen, and this is what contributed to the rise in livestock prices."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): HASSAN ARAFAT, Nablus-based merchant
"We know that there is a high price, but it is not because of us. There are some customers who insist on buying livestock for the feast, and this reduces our losses a little."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza, Palestine.
(XHTV)