Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

The most oppressed people in the world today, the Palestinians of Gaza, the world's largest open-air prisonWhile Eid brings joy to Muslims around the world, Gazans will spend the day in mourning and devastation. Although a ceasefire resolution was passed in the UN, the Israeli attacks did not stop. It is not an Eid greeting gift from world leaders, they want an effective initiative to stop the war.

Eid is coming after a month of fasting. And Eid means new clothes, morning prayers, sharing the happiness of relatives. While that joy continues in the Muslim countries of the world, it is a different story in Gaza. There is the pain of losing a relative this time, in the sad memory of the mosque destroyed by the bomb. Hunger, fear of death of parents, brothers and sisters is not leaving behind.

According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the Israeli aggression in Gaza has been going on for more than six months. Loss of life is happening every day. It is difficult to get a single meal in the Israeli barrier to get relief. And as regularly as the sun rises and sets, their lives are regularly subjected to brutality. It has been going on for decades. Once they had land, a roof over their heads. All occupied. The last refuge is also on the way to capture.

The world is going through a merciless time. Such a time has never come before—it cannot be said. Came several times. World War I and II, Hitler's extermination of the Jews, the cruelest chapter in history. However, this time the cruelty and brutality is a bit exceptional. The whole world is supporting and sponsoring this brutality, which has probably never been seen like this.

I am talking about the Palestinians. I am talking about the occupation-murder and brutality organized by Israel with the help of world powers. And in 1948 there declared the state of Israel. Then in 1967, Israel defeated the Arabs in the Six Day War and occupied a large area.

Gaza has been under siege for 17 years, the world's largest open prison. Mahmoud Abbas was elected president of the Palestinians in the 2005 elections. After the death of Yasser Arafat in 2004, Mahmoud Abbas became the leader of Al Fattah. Fattah was defeated in the 2006 primary election. Fattah was defeated in the Hamas-Fattah civil war that year. Hamas formed the government in Gaza after winning the 2007 elections.

Gaza is bordered on one side by the Mediterranean Sea, on the other by Egypt and on two sides by the occupying Israel.

The 41 km long and 10 km wide Gaza Strip is home to about 23-24 million Palestinians, 70 percent of whom live below the poverty line and the unemployment rate is 65 percent.

Egypt and Israel have blockaded Gaza since 2007, when Hamas came to power. Egypt and Israel control what gets in and what doesn't.

Work shortages, food shortages are daily in Gaza. But there is no drug crisis. Israel allows all kinds of drugs to enter Gaza. The aim is to make the Palestinians addicted to drugs.

Rafah, the southern Gaza border with Egypt, is now closed. Negotiations to open this border are ongoing. Thousands of Palestinians gathered at the Rafah border.

It is true that Hamas has infiltrated Israel and carried out atrocities. The question is why Hamas attacked Israel? There could be two reasons.

First of all, the countries whose positions were in favor of the Palestinians and against Israel, are also gradually normalizing friendship or relations with Israel. Especially the Arab world, led by Saudi Arabia. The Palestinians or Hamas feel that no one is looking out for their interests anymore. Hamas attacked Israel to show that no peace process can be advanced without the Palestinians.

Second, Israel is occupying Palestinian land little by little every day and establishing Jewish settlements. Oppressing and killing Palestinians. The Israeli government assured its citizens that, no matter what happened, they were safe. By attacking Hamas, the Israeli people are not safe either.

Analysis of the Hamas attack is ongoing. Almost all of those explanations or analyzes are biased. The world's militarily and economically powerful states are behaving in a biased manner, and so is their media.

Palestinians identify Israel's destruction of Palestine in 1948 in two terms. One. Al-Gurba means exile. Two. Al-Nakba means destruction or disaster. Both words carry fresh scars of oppression in the Palestinian lexicon. For 76 years they have to go through such a nakbar. Because Israel has carried out barbaric attacks to occupy Palestinian territory many times.

Now they are showing their final form. Since October 7, 2023, the humanitarian world protested against Israel's indiscriminate genocide campaign, but Israel is not backing down from killing innocent Palestinians. In addition, they are fueled by the United States, its legislators and radical Jewish businessmen. As on April 1, a US senator advised Israel to end the war by attacking Gaza like Hiroshima-Nagasaki. These two Japanese cities were cremated by the United States during World War II by dropping atomic bombs. What a horrible humanity! Where the starving people of Gaza are washing their hands and living their days in fear of being killed by bombs.

In Palestine, there is a happy atmosphere during Ramadan and Eid. The celebration of Eid starts around Ramadan. Even though they are bound by the chains of oppression, they are interested in observing and celebrating religious rules, rituals, traditions. During the month of Ramadan, lamps are lit in the homes of Palestinian Arabs. The sound of Azan comes from the mosque. Iftar is organized in everyone's house. The holy month of Ramadan brings a bit of celebration for Palestinians. But this time the picture of Palestine, especially Gaza, is different. Food, water and all the food items for Iftar are now uncertain. Instead of happy arrangements, parents have to see the sad faces of hungry children. All joy has been taken away by Israel's brutality.

But in this Palestine, fasting meant a festival, a gathering of people. Last year in March-April during Ramadan, decorated houses and streets were seen in Gaza. Lanterns, colorful lamps were seen lit on the occasion of Ramadan. There were different types of food at the Iftar gathering. There was a rush of people on the streets. Children were seen ecstatic. This time he has nothing. As a result, at the end of Ramadan, the Palestinians will spend the holy Eid-ul-Fitr in mourning and regret. Maybe even that day their clothes will be wet by Israeli bombs; Some mother's chest will be riddled with bullets. But last year too, the image of Eid-ul-Fitr was festive.

As was the Eid-ul-Fitr of 2023

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated in Palestine on April 21, 2023. The Palestine Information Center published a report on Eid preparations on April 20. It is said that Eid-ul-Fitr is a joyous festival that is celebrated for three years in Palestine. The report described the engagement of families, relatives, sharing joy, sharing food and meeting each other.

Like every year last year, the scent of baking 'kaq' and 'mamul', one of the popular Eid food items, can be found all over the towns and villages of the Gaza Strip. Cookies are accompanied by date paste or almonds. On the day of Eid, these foods are accompanied by tea or coffee. The women send home-made Eid food to their relatives and neighbors.

On the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr last year, Om Ahmad Abu Zaidah, a mother of three children in the Shati refugee camp, said, 'I can't imagine Eid without "Crow"! The women members of the family share it, some knead the dough, others roll it into balls and others bake it to make kakas. The scent of this Eid food can be found from quite a distance. It is a mouth-watering traditional dish.

And before Eid, a crowd of people buying new clothes can be seen in the general markets of Palestine. It was last year too. Houses are also seen to be cleaned. The walls of the house are colorfully painted. Family members are seen visiting graves in groups. This time too, Palestinians will be seen next to their graves, not the colorfully painted walls, clean houses, new clothes. Palestinians will spend Eid with the pain and grief of losing their relatives due to brutality of oppressive IsraelAccording to the Palestinian Health Authority, at least 33,137 Palestinians have been killed in the relentless attacks since October 7 last year. Most of them are women and children. In addition, 75 thousand 815 people were injured in the Israeli attack.

Thousands of buildings including hospitals, schools, refugee camps, mosques, churches have been damaged or destroyed in this Israeli attack. In addition, more than two million residents have been forced to leave their homes due to Israeli aggression.
In such a situation, 2.3 million Palestinians are going to celebrate Eid in a different environment due to the grief and sorrow of losing their relatives. There is also a shortage of food and water.

Last Eid they played on the swing and roundabout. Now they are sleeping in graves, many graves are not even marked. Many children buried in the rubble could not be found. The children who are separated from their parents and families are counting uncertain days in the refugee camp, who will kiss them on the forehead and send them to pray Eid prayers? He has no one to answer to.
America, the bully of humanity, has vetoed several cease-fire proposals at the United Nations. However, the last proposal was refrained from veto.
Meanwhile, although the ceasefire proposal was passed, Israel has announced that it will not stop attacks until Hamas is eliminated. But in this attack that has been going on for almost half a year, even if Hamas has not done much, ordinary Palestinians have to pay the price, the most vulnerable children.

In this situation, instead of greetings on Eid, the people of Gaza are asking world leaders for strong action to stop Israeli brutality.

The writer is a, columnist and researcher Founder and Chairman,Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society