Children in the Gaza Strip are waiting impatiently for Eid al-Adha where joyful celebrations take place in the streets of Gaza which witness offering sacrifices as followed by the Muslim tradition.
Inside cattle farms in the city of Khan Younis hundreds of children gather along with their relatives as they stare at the animals being transported by trucks in preparation for slaughter.
Staring at one of the calves child Mahmoud Al-Najjar stops along with his brother Suhaib and his younger sister Lian to enjoy the scene that stole their hearts and minds.
On the morning of Arafah (the day before the sacrifice) citizens flock to the cattle farms to transport the sacrifices to their homes via private cars and trucks.
In one of the neighborhoods of Ma’an east of Khan Younis dozens of children gather in front of one of the houses in the neighborhood to greet the calf of their neighbor Abu Amr.
When the calf is brought down the hit-and-run tricks start by the cheering boys whose whistles fill the place.
One of the children whispers in the ear of his friend about the arrival of another neighbor’s calf as children get excited to enjoy the scene and then return home to tell their loved ones about their day.
Children welcome Eid al-Adha with blessings and joy despite the atmosphere of pain tragedy and siege that has been dominant in the Gaza Strip for 12 years.
This year the cattle markets are witnessing a significant decline in demand in the Gaza Strip due to the high prices of livestock as the Eid al-Adha approaches especially in light of the deteriorating economic and living conditions.
