Gazans celebrate Eid in tenth year of blockade

Markets in the Gaza Strip witnessed a type of hysteria last night as shoppers prepared for Eid Al-Fitr, the Muslim celebration to mark the end of Ramadan.

Shoppers picked out Eid outfits, shoes and the traditional Eid date squares.

Shop owners rely on the Eid trade to boost their income especially as a result of the siege which has seen Gazans tighten their belts and reduce their spending due to their ever reducing incomes.

At Eid prayers this morning worshippers wore their newly purchased outfits.

During the sermon the deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau Ismail Haniyeh stressed that that the Strip should not fear the Israeli threats against it, adding that there are those that are able to defend Gaza and its people.

He called for a unified Palestinian front in the face of the ongoing Israeli aggression, stressing his movement’s willingness to end divisions and form a unity government. He called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to take steps to end the divisions.

The cases of Palestinian prisoners is a priority for Hamas, he explained, but he denied that there are ongoing negotiations with Israel regarding a prisoner swap.