Before the war, more than 3,000 Palestinians from Gaza travelled annually to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
This year, most remain unable to leave due to the continued closure of crossings and tight Israeli controls on movement, with travel limited to rare humanitarian cases.
For many, particularly the elderly who had saved for years, the pilgrimage has become another dream halted by war and siege. Rights advocates say the restrictions reflect a broader denial of Palestinians’ freedom of movement and religious life.
Eid sacrifices have also all but disappeared. Gaza’s Agriculture Ministry says animals have not been available for the third consecutive year due to the destruction of farms, veterinary facilities and feed supplies, alongside restrictions on livestock imports.
Before October 2023, tens of thousands of sheep and cattle were brought into Gaza ahead of Eid.
With markets largely empty and prices far beyond reach, most families are unable to afford meat. The collapse in purchasing power, driven by war, displacement and shortages, has left many struggling to secure even basic food.
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The wider humanitarian situation remains severe, with most of Gaza’s population displaced and living in precarious conditions, while movement outside the territory is almost entirely blocked, except for limited medical evacuations.
For many children, Eid now passes without new clothes, gifts or family visits, replaced instead by queues for water and food and the absence of loved ones killed or displaced.
This year, Gaza marks Eid without Hajj, without sacrifice and without the conditions to freely practise its faith, as Palestinians continue to endure a religious season overshadowed by war.
