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UN PhotoGAZA / MONTH OF RAMADAN
STORY: GAZA / MONTH OF RAMADAN
TRT: 08:20
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 17 FEBRUARY 2026, GAZA CITY
1. Various shots, destroyed Al-Zarqa neighborhood in central Gaza City, showing the rubble of homes and the displaced families’ tents among them
2. Various shots, Mr. Walid Al-Asi’s family, who live in a tent beside their destroyed home in the Al-Zarqa neighborhood in central Gaza City
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Walid Al-Asi, Gaza resident:
“Before the war, we lived happily in our home. We ate and drank with joy, enjoying qatayef, watermelon, and everything else. Today, we have been deprived of all that. I see goods in the shops and turn my face away because I have no money to buy them. I am a man suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, and I cannot walk. Those living in tents must be helped.”
4. Various shots, Walid Al-Asi’s family in the tent beside their destroyed home in the Al-Zarqa neighborhood
5. Various shots, Mrs. Amal Al-Samri standing outside her tent, set up next to her destroyed home in the Al-Zarqa neighborhood in central Gaza City
6. Various shots, Mrs. Amal Al-Samri with her children inside their tent, as she carries out her household tasks
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Amal Al-Samri, Gaza resident:
“Before the war, life was beautiful. We used to visit relatives, I would go to my parents, siblings, and loved ones, go down to the market to shop for the house, and prepare for Ramadan. Today, there is nothing. We are living in tragedy. There is no electricity or water, and we have been displaced from our homes from place to place. In one location, seawater flooded in and swept away our tents.”
8. Various shots, historic Al-Zawiya Market in Gaza City
9. Various shots, shops decorated with Ramadan ornaments
10. Various shots, commercial activity inside the historic Al-Zawiya Market in Gaza City
11. Various shots, vendor selling Ramadan decorations and lanterns in Al-Zawiya Market
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Louay Al-Jamasi, Ramada decorations shop owner, Gaza:
“Today, many people in Gaza have been deprived of Ramadan decorations due to the lack of electricity. In addition, there is the issue of rising prices because Ramadan goods do not enter the Gaza Strip. Previously, this lantern cost 30 shekels; today it reaches 60 shekels. The price has doubled due to the lack of goods entering. People in difficult situations cannot celebrate Ramadan as in previous years.”
13. Various shots, commercial activity inside the historic Al-Zawiya Market in Gaza City
14. Various shots, Maher Tarazi, from Gaza’s Christian community, singing joyfully in celebration of Ramadan
15. Various shots, young girl holding a Ramadan lantern and standing in Al-Zawiya Market in central Gaza City
16. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Maher Tarazi, member of Gaza’s Christian community:
“People here want to feel joy. We have gone through difficult days, and it is good that we are still alive. People look at themselves and ask: how are we still alive? They come to the markets, but as you can see, there is some aid that helps a little, and some employees have a bit of money, but the situation now is not as it was before in terms of purchasing power.”
17. Various shots, commercial activity inside the historic Al-Zawiya Market in Gaza City
18. Various shots, historic Great Omari Mosque, located next to Al-Zawiya Market, which was destroyed during the war
19. Various shots, night shots showing life in Gaza City and some shops attempting to light Ramadan decorations in celebration of the occasion
This year, the month of Ramadan arrives in the Gaza Strip for the third time since the outbreak of the war, as most neighborhoods remain devastated and the majority of residents depend on humanitarian aid amid a severe deterioration in living conditions.
In the Al-Zarqa neighborhood in central Gaza City, piles of rubble stretch across areas where residential homes once stood. Temporary tents rise among the debris, sheltering families who have lost their houses. The impact of the destruction is evident in the narrow streets, now reduced to passageways between remnants of concrete.
Walid Al-Asi, a resident of the neighborhood, lives with his family in a tent erected beside his destroyed home. The man, who suffers from chronic illnesses including high blood pressure and diabetes, says he is no longer able to provide for his family’s basic needs.
He added, “Before the war, we lived happily in our home. We ate and drank with joy. Today, we have been deprived of all of that. I see goods in the shops and turn my face away because I have no money to buy them. I am a man suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, and I cannot walk. Those living in tents must be helped.”
Amal Al-Samri shares a tent with her husband and children, set up next to their destroyed house in the same neighborhood. She stands outside her tent while her children occupy themselves inside with simple daily tasks in the absence of basic services.
She said, “Before the war, life was beautiful. We used to visit relatives, and I would go to my parents and siblings. I would go down to the market to shop for the house and prepare for Ramadan. Today, there is nothing. We are living in tragedy. There is no electricity and no water. We have been displaced from one place to another, and in one location, seawater flooded in and swept away our tents.”
At the historic Al-Zawiya Market in Gaza City, commercial activity appeared limited, with only a few shops hanging Ramadan decorations in an attempt to revive the atmosphere of the holy month. A number of shoppers moved between stalls displaying lanterns and decorations, while traders complained of scarce goods and rising prices.
Louay Al-Jamasi, a shop owner selling Ramadan decorations, said that electricity outages and restrictions on the entry of goods have affected the market.
He added, “Previously, this lantern cost 30 shekels; today it reaches 60 shekels. The price has doubled because goods are not entering. People who are struggling cannot celebrate Ramadan as they did in previous years.”
Despite the difficult conditions, some residents try to hold on to signs of life. Maher Tarazi, a member of Gaza’s Christian community, was walking through the market singing Ramadan songs.
Maher Tarazi, “People here want to feel joy. We have gone through difficult days, and it is good that we are still alive. They come to the markets, but the situation now is not as it was before in terms of purchasing power.”
Nearby, the historic Great Omari Mosque stands in ruins after being struck during the war, reflecting the extent of damage inflicted on historical and religious buildings in the city.
As evening falls, a few simple lights illuminate limited commercial shops in an attempt to create a Ramadan atmosphere in a city exhausted by war, while residents continue striving to secure their basic needs amid shortages of electricity and water and declining purchasing power.
