This year, 33-year-old Palestinian American Nadia Duwaik expressed a heavier sentiment towards the month of Ramadan compared to previous years.
Duwaik shared with CNN that she anticipates Ramadan excitedly, looking forward to celebrating and reflecting on her family’s traditions, including nightly iftar gatherings.
This year, Nadia Duwaik, a 33-year-old Palestinian American, finds the month of Ramadan more challenging than usual. Speaking to CNN, Duwaik typically looks forward to Ramadan as a time for family gatherings and reflection.
However, this year, as the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, Duwaik’s emotions about the holy month are complicated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
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Since the October 7 Hamas attack, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that more than 30,000 people have been killed and around 70,000 others injured due to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
As desperation mounts and Israel maintains strict restrictions on aid entering Gaza, humanitarian organizations are raising concerns about deteriorating conditions. The United Nations warns that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are on the verge of famine.
On Friday, the European Union disclosed plans to establish an emergency maritime aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza in collaboration with allies like the U.S.
The day before, President Joe Biden revealed that the U.S. Military intends to construct a temporary port along the Gaza coast to facilitate the delivery of crucial humanitarian assistance.
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The international effort for aid follows a tragic incident earlier this month, where over 100 people lost their lives. Eyewitnesses and Palestinian officials reported that Israeli soldiers opened fire as crowds gathered around food aid trucks.
Chaos ensued, leading to many being run over, injured, or trampled. Israel acknowledged its forces fired on the crowds, citing threats to their troops, but contested the version of events provided by eyewitnesses and Palestinian officials, as reported by CNN.
Gaza’s population of approximately 2.2 million people is grappling with acute food insecurity, with many facing crisis or worse conditions, as reported by the World Food Programme. Child malnutrition in Gaza is reported to be higher than anywhere else in the world.
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As the crescent moon signals the start of Ramadan, American Muslims, including Duwaik, feel a pressing need to fulfill zakat, a fundamental tenet of Ramadan and their Islamic faith, by providing relief to Gaza.
Similarly, Jad Shaheen, also a Palestinian American, remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation and his family’s well-being in the West Bank.
“People need more help than they’ve needed in the past because the situation is obviously worse – they’re being actively starved,” he said. “Food and water are being blocked from people in Gaza to access, so it’s extra important to try and get those things to people who need it.”
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