'No Eid' in Gaza for third year as livestock crisis erases holiday rituals

'No Eid' in Gaza for third year as livestock crisis erases holiday rituals Submitted by Maha Hussaini on Sun, 05/24/2026 - 12:58 Israeli attacks, blockade and displacement have devastated the livestock sector, leaving most families unable to carry out the Eid animal sacrifice tradition A Palestinian boy stands next to plastic containers on a trolley, as he and others collect portable water for their displaced family living in shelters in the Bureij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip on 18 May 2026 (Eyad Baba/AFP) Off Mazen al-Jerjawi would normally spend this time of year preparing for Eid al-Adha, selling the hundreds of sheep and goats he raised on his land as families across Gaza searched for animals to sacrifice during the holiday. Today, however, the man once known as one of Gaza's leading livestock breeders runs only a small restaurant, relying on frozen meat allowed into the besieged enclave under tight Israeli restrictions. "At this time of year, I used to sell around 200 sheep and cows. Today, I have none," Jerjawi, from Gaza City, told Middle East Eye. "No live animals are being allowed into Gaza at all," he added.  "Israel treats the people of Gaza as if they are living here temporarily, and what is allowed is merely to 'keep things going' at a minimal level." Eid al-Adha is one of the most important holidays in Islam, during which Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow or camel after Eid prayers, with the meat shared among family, neighbours and those in need. Before the war, Gaza imported between 40,000 and 60,000 sheep and calves each year ahead of Eid to meet demand for the ritual sacrifice. But for the third consecutive year, ...

Original source: Middle East Eye