Camille Naredo

Children stand on a dune above a sand sculpture with the greeting message "Welcome, Ramadan" created by Palestinian artist Yazeed Abu Jarad, who was displaced by the war from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, along a beach in Khan Yunis in the south of the Palestinian territory on February 17, 2026, a day ahead of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Bashar Taleb, AFP

Children stand on a dune above a sand sculpture with the greeting message "Welcome, Ramadan" created by Palestinian artist Yazeed Abu Jarad, who was displaced by the war from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, along a beach in Khan Yunis in the south of the Palestinian territory on February 17, 2026, a day ahead of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. (Photo by Bashar Taleb / AFP)

Article (news)

GAZA

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771429734010AFP__20260217__97WL4JN__v1__MidRes__PalestinianIsraelConflictGazaReligionIslamRamada.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Children stand on a dune above a sand sculpture with the greeting message &quot;Welcome, Ramadan&quot; created by Palestinian artist Yazeed Abu Jarad, who was displaced by the war from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, along a beach in Khan Yunis in the south of the Palestinian territory on February 17, 2026, a day ahead of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Bashar Taleb, AFP" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Children stand on a dune above a sand sculpture with the greeting message &quot;Welcome, Ramadan&quot; created by Palestinian artist Yazeed Abu Jarad, who was displaced by the war from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, along a beach in Khan Yunis in the south of the Palestinian territory on February 17, 2026, a day ahead of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. <em>Bashar Taleb, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>GAZA CITY,  Palestinian Territories -- Little Ramadan lanterns and string lights appeared on streets lined with collapsed buildings and piles of rubble in Gaza City, bringing joy and respite as Islam&#x27;s holiest month began -- the first since October&#x27;s ceasefire.</p><p>In the Omari mosque, dozens of worshippers performed the first Ramadan morning prayer, fajr, bare feet on the carpet but donning heavy jackets to stave off the winter cold.</p><p>&quot;Despite the occupation, the destruction of mosques and schools, and the demolition of our homes... we came in spite of these harsh conditions&quot;, Abu Adam, a resident of Gaza City who came to pray, told AFP.</p><p>&quot;Even last night, when the area was targeted, we remained determined to head to the mosque to worship God,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/2/18/israel-accused-of-move-expanding-jerusalem-borders-for-first-time-since-1967-1131">READ: Israel accused of move expanding Jerusalem borders for first time since 1967</a></div><p>A security source in Gaza told AFP Wednesday that artillery shelling targeted the eastern parts of Gaza City that morning.</p><p>The source added that artillery shelling also targeted a refugee camp in central Gaza.</p><p>Israel does not allow international journalists to enter the Gaza Strip, preventing AFP and other news organizations from independently verifying casualty figures.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- &#x27;Stifled joy&#x27; -</strong></div><p>In Gaza&#x27;s south, tens of thousands of people still live in tents and makeshift shelters as they wait for the territory&#x27;s reconstruction after a US-brokered ceasefire took hold in October.</p><p>Nivin Ahmed, who lives in a tent in the area known as Al-Mawasi, told AFP this first Ramadan without war brought &quot;mixed and varied feelings&quot;.</p><p>&quot;The joy is stifled. We miss people who were martyred, are still missing, detained, or even travelled,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;The Ramadan table used to be full of the most delicious dishes and bring together all our loved ones,&quot; the 50-year-old said.</p><p>&quot;Today, I can barely prepare a main dish and a side dish. Everything is expensive. I can&#x27;t invite anyone for Iftar or suhoor,&quot; she said, referring to the meals eaten before and after the daily fast of Ramadan.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/2/15/gaza-civil-defense-says-israeli-strikes-kill-12-2243">READ: Gaza civil defense says Israeli strikes kill 12</a></div><p>Despite the ceasefire, shortages remain in Gaza, whose battered economy and material damage have rendered most residents at least partly dependent on humanitarian aid for their basic needs.</p><p>But with <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/2/2/gaza-s-rafah-crossing-makes-limited-reopening-after-two-year-war-1952">all entries into the tiny territory under Israeli control</a>, not enough goods are able to enter to bring prices down, according to the United Nations and aid groups.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- &#x27;Still special&#x27; -</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=AByjRIADBc1MvrzL"></script><p>Maha Fathi, 37, was displaced from Gaza City and lives in a tent west of the city.</p><p>&quot;Despite all the destruction and suffering in Gaza, Ramadan is still special,&quot; she told AFP.</p><p>&quot;People have begun to empathize with each other&#x27;s suffering again after everyone was preoccupied with themselves during the war.&quot;</p><p>She said that her family and neighbors were able to share moments of joy as they prepared food for suhoor and set up Ramadan decorations.</p><p>&quot;Everyone longs for the atmosphere of Ramadan. Seeing the decorations and the activity in the markets fills us with hope for a return to stability&quot;, she added.</p><p>On the beach at central Gaza&#x27;s Deir el-Balah, Palestinian artist Yazeed Abu Jarad contributed to the holiday spirit with his art.</p><p>In the sand near the Mediterranean Sea, he sculpted &quot;Welcome Ramadan&quot; in ornate Arabic calligraphy, under the curious eye of children from a nearby tent camp.</p><p>Nearly all of Gaza&#x27;s 2.2 million residents were displaced at least once during the more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the latter&#x27;s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel.</p><p>Mohammed al-Madhoun, 43, also lives in a tent west of Gaza City, and hopes for brighter days ahead.</p><p>&quot;I hope this is the last Ramadan we spend in tents. I feel helpless in front of my children when they ask me to buy lanterns and dream of an Iftar table with all their favorite foods.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We try to find joy despite everything&quot;, he said, describing his first Ramadan night out with the neighbors, eating the pre-fast meal and praying.</p><p>&quot;The children were as if they were on a picnic&quot;, he said.</p>

<p>Little Ramadan lanterns and string lights appeared on streets lined with collapsed buildings and piles of rubble in Gaza City, bringing joy and respite as Islam's holiest month began -- the first since October's ceasefire.</p>

Little Ramadan lanterns and string lights appeared on streets lined with collapsed buildings and piles of rubble in Gaza City, bringing joy and respite as Islam's holiest month began -- the first since October's ceasefire.

First Ramadan after truce brings flicker of joy in devastated Gaza

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First Ramadan after truce brings flicker of joy in devastated Gaza

Youssef Hassouna,

Agence France-Presse

Published Feb 19, 2026 01:41 AM PHT

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Gaza

Hamas

Palestine

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