STORY: Iftar cannon fired during Ramadan in Jerusalem
SHOOTING TIME: March 27, 2024
DATELINE: April 2, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:26
LOCATION: Jerusalem
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of preparation for Iftar cannon
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): RAJAI SANDUQA, Ramadan Iftar cannon operator
3. various of firing Iftar cannon
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): RAJAI SANDUQA, Ramadan Iftar cannon operator
5. various of local resident
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): Local resident

STORYLINE:

For residents of Jerusalem's Old City and its surrounding areas, iftar cannons are part of the holy month of Ramadan. Sanduqa family has been in charge of firing iftar cannons for more than 300 years.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): RAJAI SANDUQA, Ramadan Iftar cannon operator
"Cannons today are different from those before. We used to use gunpowder, but after the First Intifada in 1987, the Israeli authorities banned the manufacture of gunpowder, and we began to use sound bombs instead of gunpowder."

Firing iftar cannons during Ramadan is a tradition in many Arab countries, signalling the end of the fast. 

At every sunset, Muslims begin to eat their fast-breaking meal only after hearing the sound of iftar cannons.

Sanduqa, 62 years old, is an actor. During Ramadan, he is responsible for the age-old tradition.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): RAJAI SANDUQA, Ramadan Iftar cannon operator
"For me, this is an honor and a responsibility. I fire the cannon twice a day to wake people up in the morning and end the fast in the evening."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): Local resident
"For us, iftar cannons are part of Ramadan. In Jerusalem and suburbs, people wait for the sound to break the fast. Many people even come here to take pictures."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jerusalem.
(XHTV)