UAE Sends 930 Tonnes of Gaza Aid Before Eid Al Adha as Israeli Attacks Destroy Livestock

The National said the UAE sent 930 tonnes of Gaza aid before Eid Al Adha as Operation Gallant Knight 3 continued its humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip this week.

“Palestinians in Gaza are approaching Eid al-Adha for the third consecutive year under siege, hunger and displacement, with the genocidal war stripping the holiday of its joy and restricting key acts of worship, including Hajj and the Eid sacrifice, Khaled Al-Waleed reports”

5Pillars

Middle East Eye reported that Mazen al-Jerjawi, from Gaza City, said, "At this time of year, I used to sell around 200 sheep and cows. Today, I have none," and added, "No live animals are being allowed into Gaza at all."

5Pillars

Middle East Eye said Gaza imported between 40,000 and 60,000 sheep and calves each year ahead of Eid before the war, but for the third consecutive year Palestinians in Gaza will be unable to observe the holiday’s ritual sacrifice.

Middle East Eye also cited Gaza’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry saying that since the start of the war in October 2023, more than 90 percent of Gaza's livestock sector has been destroyed or damaged by Israeli attacks and restrictions on the movement of goods and farming supplies.

RFI said Gazans are celebrating Eid al-Adha in "these same disastrous conditions" with civilians left destitute in makeshift tents with little food and very limited access to water.

Middle East Eye reported that before the war a sheep typically cost between $500 and $600, but "Today, the few remaining animals can sell for as much as $7,000," and it quoted Jerjawi saying, "I stopped selling sheep because the remaining livestock in Gaza has become incredibly scarce."

Middle East Eye also said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that by last November, at least 80 percent of Gaza's sheep and 70 percent of its goats had either been killed or died during the war.

Al-Jazeera Net

Al-Jazeera Net described Eid al-Adha approaching with markets crowded with goods but almost empty of buyers, and it quoted a resident saying, "90% of Gaza's people are destitute."

Al-Jazeera Net further quoted a clothing merchant saying, "prices of some goods have risen by about 400% compared with the period before the war," and that goods that used to be sold for 10 shekels are now arriving at prices doubled due to customs, transportation costs, and repeated closures of crossings.

RFI quoted Zahra saying as Eid prayer ended, "I have dreamed of performing the pilgrimage for a very long time," and described the prayer taking place right in the street amid rubble.

RFI said Eid al-Adha also marks the period of the Hajj, but "there are no Gazan pilgrims this year in Mecca" because it is "impossible to leave Gaza because of the Israeli siege."

“On the occasion of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Jared Kushner unveiled what he presents as a 'master plan' for the reconstruction of Gaza, anchored in Donald Trump's geopolitical and economic vision”

Le1.ma

Middle East Eye said the Bangladesh Garment Workers’ Federation has called a nationwide strike—however, in this Gaza context it instead reported that Gaza’s Ministry of Agriculture said the number of sheep and goats in the enclave has fallen from around 60,000 before the war to just 3,000 today.

5Pillars said this year Gaza marks Eid without Hajj, without sacrifice and without the conditions to freely practise its faith, and it said before the war more than 3,000 Palestinians from Gaza travelled annually to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

Le1.ma said Jared Kushner unveiled a $25 billion 'master plan' for the reconstruction of Gaza at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and it described a humanitarian transition plan over 100 days including "Evacuating nearly 68 million tons of rubble."

Le1.ma also said the plan’s security conditions all reconstruction on complete demilitarization of Hamas, including "Immediate disarmament of heavy weapons," and it said the Board of Peace is to be chaired for life by Donald Trump with a $1 billion financial contribution required for permanent members.