Gaza Strip - June 16, 2024

Storyline:
The enduring Palestinian-Israeli conflict has tragically shattered the once joyful and festive atmosphere of the Eid al-Adha holiday for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, replacing their customary celebrations and cherished gatherings with the harsh realities of famine and displacement.

According to Islamic traditions, Muslim families buy cattle, usually a goat or sheep, as a sacrifice in the early morning of Eid al-Adha and give away the meat to the poor as a charity gift.

Previously, Palestinians celebrated the holiday by decorating streets and alleys, slaughtering sacrificial animals, exchanging gifts, and visiting parks and playgrounds in the Strip with their families.

But this year's Eid al-Adha has come at a time of war. Instead of joyous celebrations and abundant feasts, the Strip is plagued by widespread devastation and the continuous threat of famine. The farms selling animals for slaughter are now confronted with a shortage of customers and livestock.

Muhammad Bakr, a resident of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, said his family has been displaced at least five times since the outbreak of the war.

As the war in Gaza persists into its ninth month, with ongoing Israeli bombings, displaced Palestinians are concerned with seeking safety and securing enough food for their survival.

The conflict and massive strikes on the Gaza Strip have claimed more than 37,000 Palestinian lives, forced 1.9 million into internal displacement and damaged numerous properties since October 2023, according to figures released by the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator.

The UN had also warned of the risk of famine in Gaza, where half of the population suffers from what the world body describes as a "catastrophic" food shortage.

Shotlist:
Gaza Strip - June 16, 2024:
1. Various of sheep eating fodder in pen;
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Nizar Fayyad, livestock trader:
"It is supposed to be Eid season now and our farm should be very crowded. But as you can see, because of the war, the farm is empty with a few sheep, for which we can barely provide fodder due to the high prices.";
3. Various of displaced Palestinian Muhammad Bakr cooking for his family in tent;
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Muhammad Bakr, displaced Palestinian:
"There is a difference between Eid this year and the previous years when we worked and provided our children with food and water. We used to buy items for Eid. Now we've been begging to survive.";
Gaza Strip - Recent
5. Various of displaced people in damaged building;
Gaza Strip - June 16, 2024
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abu Ali, displaced Palestinian:
"The joy of Eid for me is when we return to be among our family members and loved ones in our homes, not like Eid today. We live the life of homeless people in schools, tents and on the streets. We do not feel happy and we don't even celebrate it.";
7. Various of buildings, people walking on street.

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