No Eid treats in Gaza

Sellers and vendors have seen a decrease in customers due to the austerity Palestinians are facing due to PA's policies

by Mohammed Asad

Palestinians shop at the market in preparation for Eid. Sellers and vendors have seen a decrease in customers due to the austerity Palestinians are facing due to PA’s policies. [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Stuffed animals are seen ar at the market in preparation for Eid. Sellers and vendors have seen a decrease in customers due to the austerity Palestinians are facing due to PA’s policies. [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

As Eid Al-Adha approaches, Palestinians in Gaza are struggling more this year than ever before, following the Palestinian Authority’s decision to cut salaries, force a number of employees into early retirement and to stop paying Israel for Gaza’s electricity supply.

PA employees in Gaza are now only receiving about half of their salaries, making celebrating Eid a near impossible task.

In the markets across the Strip there is little activity with Palestinians only buying fruits, biscuits and sweets for their children. Clothing stores, which normally see increased activity during this time of year as people search for a new outfit for the occasion, have struggled.

Instead of paying for a Qurbani, a meat sacrifice, as is the tradition at this time of year, Palestinians in the Strip have been forced to settle for soft toys in the shape of sheep to bring some joy to their little ones and a taste of the occasion.

Read: Electricity crisis in Gaza Strip is an illegal ‘punishment on the entire nation’

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