TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Eid al-Fitr is a celebration observed worldwide, including in conflict zones with Israel. The people of Palestine, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon are navigating the festivities amid the looming threat of Israeli airstrikes and economic hardship, struggling to maintain the spirit of the sacred religious event and create moments of joy for their children despite the ongoing conflicts.
Palestine
In Gaza, Eid al-Fitr, typically a time for family gatherings and communal feasts, is overshadowed by displacement, grief, and fear due to relentless Israeli bombardments. The joyous scenes of children in new clothes are absent.
Despite the pervasive fear, Palestinian citizens continue to perform Eid prayers amid the ruins of destroyed mosques, in temporary shelters, and overcrowded schools. The resilience of Gaza’s residents, often an inspiration to the world, is tested as the genocide enters its another year, with the weight of loss becoming increasingly heavy.
As quoted by Al Jazeera, Nahla Abu Matar, a 28-year-old mother in Gaza, expressed, “Eid was once a day of family reunions and visits, has now become a day of farewells and funerals.”
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 22 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the first day of Eid alone. The recent escalation of bombings, which intensified after March 18, has resulted in over 900 deaths and more than 1,300 injuries, as reported by Morocco World News.
For many, even the simplest Eid traditions have become impossible, with fear making family visits a perilous endeavor.
The situation is equally dire for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, who face brutal Israeli occupation and escalating settler violence.
On the morning of Eid al-Fitr, Sunday, March 30, 2025, the Israeli military fired tear gas at Palestinian citizens visiting the graves of their loved ones in the Jenin refugee camp, demonstrating that even moments of remembrance and prayer are not spared from violence.
Syria
In Syria, a new chapter unfolds following years under the authoritarian rule of Bashar al-Assad. For the first time since Assad's downfall, Syrians across the country gathered in mosques and public spaces on Monday morning to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former rebel leader and current president, attended the first Eid al-Fitr prayers at the People's Palace in Damascus, delivering a sermon focused on Syria’s new era, as reported by Middle East Eye. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Grand Mufti of Syria Sheikh Osama al-Rifai, military commanders from the Defense Ministry, and other government officials.
Thousands of Syrians performed Eid prayers at locations designated by the Ministry of Religious Endowments, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a war memorial in the capital that was previously under strict visitation restrictions during the Assad regime.
This occasion was met with profound emotion by the Syrian people. Raghad, a 26-year-old who returned to Syria from Jordan, expressed her astonishment, “You couldn’t even think about taking a picture here before, let alone have crowds gathering in these huge numbers. It’s a sight that’s almost unbelievable."
For many, these open Eid al-Fitr prayers symbolize a significant departure from the past.
However, the celebrations are tempered by security concerns. Days before Eid al-Fitr, the U.S. Embassy in Syria issued a warning about the increased risk of terrorist attacks targeting “embassies, international organizations, and Syrian public institutions in Damascus.”
Local security forces have intensified operations to preempt potential attacks.
Yemen
A few weeks before Eid al-Fitr, the U.S. initiated intensive airstrikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, following the Houthis’ announcement that they would continue targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
Yemen, already grappling with a prolonged economic crisis, now faces further hardship. The U.S. airstrikes have deterred many from shopping for Eid al-Fitr, fearing the dangers of public markets.
Ahmed al-Ali, a resident of Sanaa, explained that his family postponed their Eid shopping due to fears of being in the market during U.S. airstrikes. Normally, he would begin preparations for Eid al-Fitr “ten days prior.” A merchant from the Saada province told The New Arab that the bombings deliberately targeted residential areas near the market to “spread terror among residents.”
Economic analyst Sadiq Ali explained that the accumulated consequences of war have robbed Yemenis of the joy they typically experience during Eid al-Fitr, disrupting their customs and traditions.
He added that daily hardships, coupled with fears of U.S. and Israeli bombings, have engulfed the population. The war and various crises have led to widespread poverty and high levels of famine. Furthermore, civil servants have not been paid for eight consecutive years, severely impacting the purchasing power of the Yemeni people.
Lebanon
Many families in Lebanon welcome Eid al-Fitr with sadness and anxiety, as the country continues to endure Israeli attacks that violate the ceasefire established last November.
Despite these challenges, many are determined to uphold the sanctity of the holiday and create a special atmosphere for their children. Fathers in Lebanon are visiting clothing stores, requesting credit to purchase Eid clothes for their children.
Khaled Arnadoun, who works at a clothing store in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, is waiting for financial assistance from his children living abroad. With this money, he hopes to buy Eid clothes for his daughter, as his salary is insufficient to cover his family’s basic needs. “Nevertheless, we must feel the atmosphere of Eid al-Fitr, even if it means having to borrow,” he told The New Arab in Arabic.
In southern Lebanon, the arrival of Eid al-Fitr has renewed the grief of families who have lost loved ones and their homes. Hundreds of thousands remain displaced, especially from border villages, as Israel continues to occupy southern Lebanese territory and launch repeated attacks.
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