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March 30, 2025 | 11:01 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In the Khan Younis refugee camp, southern Gaza, Palestinian mothers are preparing Kaak, traditional cookies for Eid al-Fitr, in the hope of bringing a little joy to their children. This is done even as Israeli military attacks have continued since March 18, 2025.
In the midst of deep sorrow, destruction, and the loss of homes and loved ones, the mothers are trying to create moments of happiness, however small, for their children. They are attempting to shield their children from the increasing hardships caused by Israel's border closures.
This year, Eid al-Fitr - the celebration marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan - is being observed as Gaza grapples with a worsening humanitarian and economic crisis, amidst escalating Israeli attacks.
Eid al-Fitr is one of the two major Islamic holidays, along with Eid al-Adha. Residents of Gaza and Palestine celebrate Eid al-Fitr this year on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Since March 2, 2025, Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip by closing all borders and preventing the entry of humanitarian, medical, and emergency relief aid.
The markets are nearly empty, while the prices of remaining goods have skyrocketed, making it difficult for the Palestinians, who are increasingly suffering from the war, to meet their basic needs.
Last week, the Gaza Government Media Office announced that the area had entered the first phase of starvation due to the prolonged blockade and the obstructed access to life-saving aid.
Amidst the limitations, Kawthar Hussein sits next to a clay stove in a corner of the refuge, trying to light a fire to bake Eid al-Fitr cookies, while Israeli artillery continues to bombard the surrounding areas in the Gaza Strip.
Due to the blockade hindering access to cooking gas, the women there are forced to use cardboard and firewood for cooking, a tedious and time-consuming process.
Despite the air being filled with smoke, Hussein diligently prepares the cookie dough on a tray before baking.
"The atmosphere here is very saddening. We have lost many relatives and loved ones, and are facing a very severe humanitarian crisis," she said.
"We are a nation that loves life. We do not want our children to live in deprivation. We are trying to give the best to them, even if it's just a little," Hussein told Anadolu on Saturday.
Before the war, she used to make about 9 kilograms of cookies for Eid al-Fitr. But this year, she is only able to make 1 kilogram, just to bring a little joy to the children affected by the war.
Despite the prevailing sorrow, she believes that celebrating Eid al-Fitr is one of the "symbols of God that must be revived."
A Glimmer of Happiness Amidst War
Umm Mohammed, a Palestinian mother, also seeks to bring the atmosphere of Eid al-Fitr to her children and grandchildren by making cookies for them.
"We managed to make a small amount of cookies so that the children can experience the Eid al-Fitr rituals that they missed in the midst of this genocide," she told Anadolu.
"Sadness envelops them. We try to comfort the children by giving each of them one cookie. That's all we can do," she added.
On March 18, the Israeli army launched a sudden airstrike on Gaza, killing 896 people and injuring nearly 2,000 others, ending the ceasefire and the agreement on prisoner exchange.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of more than 50,200 Palestinian residents -- mostly women and children -- and injured more than 114,000 people, according to local health authorities.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant last November on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
In addition, Israel is also facing a genocide lawsuit in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the war they launched in the region.
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