Ramadan Begins in Gaza Under the Shadow of Destruction

Palestinian children sit atop the rubble of a mosque destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, which is surrounded by tents for displaced Palestinians, in Gaza City.

As the holy month of Ramadan arrives, families in Gaza begin their fast amid the ruins of a landscape transformed by months of conflict. What is traditionally a time of spiritual renewal, communal prayer, and shared meals has instead become a period marked by loss, displacement, and uncertainty.

Many of Gaza’s mosques—once central gathering places during Ramadan—now stand damaged or reduced to rubble. With entire neighborhoods flattened, thousands of families are observing the month in makeshift shelters, tents, or the remains of their homes. The call to prayer echoes through streets where infrastructure has collapsed, yet people continue to gather, improvising spaces for worship wherever they can.

Despite the devastation, the resilience of Gaza’s residents is unmistakable. Families share what little food they have for iftar, often relying on humanitarian aid. Volunteers distribute dates, water, and bread, determined to preserve the rituals that define the month. Acts of charity, patience, and solidarity—core values of Ramadan—take on even deeper meaning in these conditions.

For many, this Ramadan is unlike any they have ever known. Yet the spirit of the month endures, carried by a community that continues to hold onto faith and tradition even in the face of profound hardship.