Gazans miss joy of Eid under shadow of blockade, war

Mohamed al-Hweiti, a clothing store owner in downtown Gaza, looked so exhausted as he was busy serving dozens of customers, who came to buy new garments for their children to wear during the Eid ul-Fitter holiday, the Muslim's feast at the end of Ramadan.

Al-Hweiti, whose store was full of clothes, most of which were made in Egypt and smuggled to Gaza, said most of the goods, products and Eid accessories can be easily found in the Gaza Strip markets, "but they are very expensive because they are smuggled through tunnels and are not legally imported."

"The current economical situation, thanks to the Israeli blockade and the 22-day December-January Israeli war on Gaza which destroyed everything, had made life so difficult here not only for vendors but also for consumers," he added.

Israel imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip and sealed off all the commercial crossings on its borders with the impoverished enclave, right after Islamic Hamas militants seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007.

Then the Gazans defied the Israeli siege and dug thousands of tunnels under the borders with Egypt.

"Before the siege, we used to legally import the clothes through the commercial crossings, and the prices were reasonable and the quality was very good, but now the cost of the smuggled goods which we are now selling in our stores is so high, therefore, the prices for our customers are higher," said al-Hweiti.

Since the beginning of the tight Israeli blockade, Israel only allowed through the commercial crossings 23 kinds of food products and prohibited raw-materials for industry and construction, as well as clothes and shoes.

In spite of more than two years of siege in the Hamas-ruled area, Gaza city markets and streets were overcrowded with traffics and customers. People said although the economic situation is poor, they are still trying their best to bring joy for their children by buying them new clothes.

"What we really miss during this Eid holiday is joy. We have been living under very difficult circumstances over the past two years. I can hardly afford to buy expensive clothes for my two daughters and one son to make them happy," said Ahmed Abu Aasi, a 45-year-old teacher in Gaza.

As he walked with his three children to Gaza downtown market to buy clothes and shoes for them to wear during the Eid holiday, he said "if current situation in Gaza continues, I'm not certain that I will be able to buy them new clothes for the next Eid."

Mohsen Bolbol, another Gaza store owner, admitted that the garments he purchased from smugglers in his store "are too expensive, either for children or for adults," adding "the vendors are not responsible for the crazy high prices of goods, the reason is that the cost of the goods is very expensive."

Different kinds of goods and products, prohibited by Israel into Gaza through the commercial crossings, have been smuggled through the underground tunnels under the borders between Gaza Strip and Egypt. Many vendors said smuggling is illegal, but without those tunnels, people would have died."

Many Gazans are looking forward the improvement of political situation, which will bring economy flourish in the poor enclave, though the chance is slim in the near future.

"I could just afford the clothes for my children, but I am not able to buy candies and cookies for my relatives who usually visit me during the Eid holiday," said Mohamed Jabber, a 54-year-old unemployed Gaza resident.

"I depend my living on the monthly financial aid from different charities," he said.

Some International humanitarian organizations are trying to help the poor Gazans. International official figures indicate poverty population in Gaza has climbed to 70 percent.

"We are not beggars, all the aid we receive every month are temporary. I miss the days when I worked and earned regular monthly income. The aid cannot help us bring the smile back to the faces of our children," said Jabber.

Besides the siege, the impact of the destructive major Israeli war on Gaza has compelled people to spend a sad Eid holiday, since many lost their beloved relatives and friends during the war which ended on Jan. 18.

According to the official figures, about 1,450 Palestinians, most of whom were women and children, were killed during the Israeli offensive.

Majed al-Samouni, whose family lost 27 members during the war, said this is the first Eid ul-Fitter holiday without them being with us.

"This Eid can only bring painful and sad memories to me and to the rest of my family," he said.