Decorations and colors have filled Gaza streets and shops yet Gazans find it difficult to feel Ramadan atmosphere as coronavirus has changed the holy month for them with mosques closing their doors and families avoiding gatherings.
Gaza’s Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs last Monday announced that mosques will be closed and public worship will be suspended during Ramadan as a protective measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
According to the Ministry of Health 15 COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases have been detected in the Gaza Strip since the start of the crisis 9 of whom have fully recovered.
Closed mosques
Um Fuad a Palestinian woman in her seventies told the PIC reporter that it broke her heart seeing al-Omari Mosque a central mosque in Gaza City closed.
Um Fuad said that coronavirus has deprived Gazans of the holy month’s special rituals and traditions praying that the pandemic ends and mosques open soon.
Empty markets
“All these decorations lanterns and lights you see are just a vain attempt to bring Ramadan atmosphere to the market” Abdullah Murtaja a vendor at al-Zawiya market in Gaza said.
Murtaja said that the usually bustling market has been almost empty of buyers even with the arrival of Ramadan. “People are afraid of coronavirus” he explained.
Murtaja said that his sales usually double during Ramadan season despite the Israeli blockade but due to coronavirus his profits fell to less than the half.
Thousands of Palestinian workmen in the besieged Gaza Strip have become jobless because of the lockdown and movement restrictions introduced to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
Vegetable salesman Mohammed Kuhail seemed very annoyed by the low purchasing power at the market. “People don’t come to buy anything even vegetables which are essential items” he complained.
“We are going to suffer heavy losses” he added.
Al-Zawiya is one of Gaza City’s most crowded and full-of-life markets yet it has not been the same since the coronavirus crisis started.
The Ministry of Health has asked people to stay at home avoid gatherings at public places and abide by the ministry’s instructions to help limit the spread of the novel virus.
