For many families in Gaza, the upcoming Eid al-Adha serves as a painful reminder of everything lost to the ongoing conflict. Traditionally a season defined by new clothes, shared biscuits, and the ritual sacrifice of livestock, this year the holiday is marked by despair and empty markets. Residents describe wandering through stalls only to return home heartbroken, unable to afford even the most basic necessities for their children. With most of the population displaced and dependent on dwindling aid, the simple ability to celebrate has become an unreachable luxury.

The scarcity of resources has hit every aspect of life, most notably the tradition of animal sacrifice. Due to destroyed farms and restricted borders, the local livestock population has plummeted, driving prices to staggering, unprecedented levels. Families who once upheld these customs annually now struggle to afford a single kilogram of meat, let alone a sheep. Meanwhile, a critical lack of cooking gas has made traditional holiday baking impossible for many, forcing families in makeshift tents to improvise with clay ovens. As the community faces pervasive exhaustion and fear, the spirit of celebration has been replaced by the grim reality of survival.