Gazans mark Eid al-Fitr amidst widespread destruction and Israeli restrictions
(VOVWORLD) - Groups of hundreds of people performed Eid Al-Fitr prayers on Friday in open areas in Gaza, amid widespread destruction and ongoing strict Israeli restrictions, according to Palestinian News Agency (WAFA).
 Palestinian Muslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayer marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Gaza City, March 20, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas) |
Hundreds of Muslim worshippers held Eid al-Fitr prayers at the gates of the Old City after the Israeli occupation forces closed Al-Aqsa Mosque for 10 days on the Islamic holiday in occupied East Jerusalem for the first time since 1967. Typically, tens of thousands of worshipers gather at the mosque for prayers during this holiday.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims. This year, Israel closed all crossings into and out of Gaza after launching its offensive against Iran on February 28. Only the Kerem Shalom crossing reopened on March 3 to allow the entry of some fuel and humanitarian aid.
The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt reopened partially on March 19, allowing a small number of humanitarian cases, including patients and their companions, to travel for medical treatment.
More than 1,100 mosques, out of approximately 1,240 in Gaza, have been destroyed during the conflict.