...GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE - JUNE 6, 2025: Under blockade and ongoing attacks by Israel, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip gathered on Friday, June 6, to perform Eid al-Adha prayers in a tent erected next to the Great Omari Mosque, which suffered severe damage during recent Israeli airstrikes. The temporary prayer area was set up near the historic mosque, one of Gaza’s oldest and most significant religious sites, after the building became unusable due to the destruction. Worshippers marked the beginning of Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s holiest holidays, amid visible devastation in the surrounding area. The event proceeded under difficult conditions, reflecting the continued impact of the conflict on religious and communal life in Gaza. The Great Omari Mosque, located in Gaza City, has been repeatedly damaged throughout years of conflict, and its latest destruction further highlights the widespread toll on cultural and religious heritage in the region. Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, coincides with the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage and is traditionally marked by the ritual slaughter of animals such as sheep and goats. This year marks the second consecutive Eid al-Adha that Palestinians in Gaza are unable to celebrate fully due to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the besieged enclave. Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing over 54,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.