Dome of the Rock in Al Aqsa Mosque Compound, June 2023 The Xavierite
The blessed Islamic month of Ramadan is officially upon us after starting on Monday, March 11.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar in which the first revelations of the Holy Quran were sent down to the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him.
In Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. It is a time for Muslims to engage in self-reflection and worship God, increasing their prayers, reading the Quran, and giving charity to the poor.
While Ramadan is a month all Muslims anticipate to take part in, Ramadan is observed differently in Palestine and is usually filled with heartache. This Ramadan, Palestinians in Gaza will be facing genocide, and in the Occupied 48 Lands and West Bank, Palestinians will face harsh oppression.
The first war on Gaza that occurred during the entirety of Ramadan was in 2014. The 2014 war on Gaza lasted 51 days between July 8, 2014, until Aug. 26, 2014, and resulted in the killing of 2,251 Palestinians.
The war on Gaza came as a result of the murder and martyrdom of Palestinian teen Mohammad Abukhdeir from Shuafat, Jerusalem.
On July 2, 2014, Abukhdeir was on his way to the morning prayer when a group of Israeli settlers kidnapped him and forced him into their car before driving away. Abukhdeir was taken into the neighboring Jerusalem village of Deir Yassin, where he was forced to drink gasoline, and was later set on fire.
The 2014 aggressions were the bloodiest and the longest war for Palestinians, eclipsing the lengths of the wars in 2008 and 2012.
Every Ramadan since 2014 has been a time where Palestinian blood is spilled like water for the Israeli war machine. However, aggressions on Gaza, and Palestine as a whole, had not gotten as bad as they did in 2021.
May 2021 was a turning point and sparked a sort of revolution. Beginning in the Occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, with the El-Kurd family threatened with eviction from their home, protests ignited all over Jerusalem and Occupied Historic Palestine.
The Israeli bombardment of Gaza began after Hamas fired warning shots into Occupied 48 Palestine for IOF forces attacking worshippers and setting off bombs in Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound. As a result of heavy Israeli bombardment on the Strip, over 200 Palestinians in Gaza rose to martyrdom, according to Al Jazeera.
These aggressions would go on for 11 days from May 10, 2021 until a ceasefire agreement was signed on May 21, 2021.
For the first time since the Second Intifada, Palestinians began mobilizing and acting as one unit, engaging in clashes and confrontations with the Occupation Forces, including those in the Occupied 48 cities of Yafa, Haifa, AlLyd, and Ramle.
Due to such unprecedented acts of resistance, like clockwork, every Ramadan since has been a cue for Israel to increase their bombings on Gaza and oppression of worshippers in Al-Aqsa Compound, the Occupied Interior, and Occupied West Bank.
The following Ramadan, during April of 2022, Palestinian worshippers were once again attacked with great force in Al-Aqsa with batons, rubber coated steel bullets, smoke bombs, and tear gas.
As a result of attacks on Al-Aqsa, centuries old mosaic windows were broken in Al-Qibli Prayer Hall of Al-Aqsa, and have been prohibited to be fixed or remodeled. Israeli Occupation Forces also launched mass arresting campaigns on protestors and worshippers inside the Mosque Compound.
Again, like clockwork, Israel began bombing the Gaza Strip, however for a shorter duration than that of 2021. Nonetheless, Palestinian lives were lost and rose to martyrdom due to Israeli fire.
Ramadan 2023 was no different than the previous years, and once again, Palestinian worshippers were attacked in Al-Aqsa Mosque compound with live fire and riot gear by Israeli Occupying Forces.
Hundreds of Palestinians were once again arrested and injured trying to protect Al-Aqsa against Israeli raids and attacks.
The main point here is that while Ramadan is supposed to be a time to engage in prayer, reflection, and worship, Palestinians are seen as targets and their religious sanctities are violated and used as battlefields.
The “only democracy in the Middle East” constantly targets and attacks Palestinians during their most holy times of the year; they target their holy sites and it’s vile.
What’s heartbreaking and daunting is that in Ramadan 2024, Palestinians in Gaza will be facing genocide and starvation, with no permanent ceasefire or plans to stop aggressions on the Strip in sight. In fact, Israeli officials are planning to continue indiscriminate bombardment of the Gaza Strip, including the densely civilian populated city of Rafah.
The bloodshed of Palestinians must end. This tradition of attacking Palestinians during Ramadan in their holy spaces must end. This Ramadan, I pray for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for Palestinians everywhere to engage in and celebrate Ramadan in peace without heartache.
Ceasefire now. Free Palestine.
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