Full Breakdown
Eid al-Adha in Gaza: Rituals Crippled by War and Siege
5/28/2026, 8:57:48 AM
War-Driven Collapse of Gaza’s Livestock Sector
Since the Israeli offensive began in October 2023, the Gaza Strip has been under a strict blockade that limits the movement of people and goods. The Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry reports that more than 90 percent of livestock farms have been destroyed or damaged by Israeli attacks and by the inability to import feed, veterinary medicine, and live animals. The Ministry of Agriculture confirms that over 500 cattle, sheep and poultry farms were wiped out, and that the sector’s pre-war imports of 10 - 12 thousand cattle and 30 - 40 thousand sheep each year have virtually ceased.
Data on Livestock Losses and Prices
- Pre-war, a sacrificial sheep cost ? 1 300 shekels (US $350) and a goat ? 2 000 shekels (US $560-$700).
- In 2025-2026 market surveys show prices ranging from 4 500 to 6 000 shekels (US $4 400-$4 700) per 50-kg animal, with some traders quoting 7 000 shekels for a single sheep.
- The Ru’ya charitable foundation notes that before the war it slaughtered 300-400 calves and sheep each Eid; this year the sacrifice season has halted entirely.
- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that by November 2025 at least 80 percent of Gaza’s sheep and 70 percent of its goats were killed or died.
On-the-Ground Accounts
Displaced residents describe daily life in tents, the loss of communal prayers, and the inability to purchase livestock. Sixty-eight-year-old I’tidal Hamdan, who lost her husband in an Israeli strike, says she “cannot go out or in, cannot perform Hajj, cannot receive treatment, cannot do anything normally.” Emad Suhweil, a father of five, notes that “people don’t even think about sacrifices … they can’t even afford two kilos of vegetables.” The Baroud family recount that of the 22 faces in their last Eid photograph, 13 have been killed in successive strikes.
Official Statements & Responses
- Gaza’s Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson Mohammed Abu Odeh states that the blockade has prevented the entry of live cattle and sheep, leaving the market “almost entirely empty.”
- The Government Media Office records 3 005 cease-fire violations since October 2023, with 910 civilians killed and 2 747 injured during the Eid period.
- Ru’ya foundation coordinator Karam Khaled reports that the organization has allocated 10 tonnes of frozen meat for distribution, replacing live-animal sacrifice because “carrying out sacrifice in the traditional way has become financially impossible for institutions and ordinary people alike.”
Criticism of Israeli Restrictions
Local NGOs and affected families argue that the blockade “has crushed us” and that the price shock “makes the traditional sacrifice unattainable for most families.” Livestock breeder Mohammed Abu Zayed asserts that “the occupation destroyed the entire agricultural and livestock sector,” linking the humanitarian crisis directly to the restrictions on imports.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact price of a sheep (US $4 400-$4 700 vs. US $6 000-$7 000) and on the remaining livestock count (some cite a few hundred surviving animals, others report only 3 000 sheep left from an original 60 000). Precise data on the volume of frozen meat actually reaching families remain unverified.
Why It Matters
The loss of Eid al-Adha’s central ritual undermines communal charity, erodes cultural cohesion, and compounds food insecurity for an estimated 77 percent of Gaza’s population facing acute hunger. The disruption of religious practice also intensifies psychological distress among displaced residents.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What is Eid al-Adha without sacrifices or Hajj? Today, people don’t even think about sacrifices … they can’t even afford two kilos of vegetables.” — Emad Suhweil, displaced father of five
- “We are besieged … we cannot go out or in, cannot perform Hajj, cannot receive treatment, cannot do anything normally.” — I’tidal Hamdan, 68, Gaza resident
- “The joy of Eid Al Adha is in the sacrifice itself,” — Ayman Abu Al Qumsan, 35, father of three, Gaza City
- “The occupation destroyed the entire agricultural and livestock sector,” — Mohammed Abu Zayed, livestock breeder, Gaza City
- “Eid does not enter tents,” — Hajja Shama al-Zorbatli, 70s, displaced widow, Shujayea neighbourhood
What’s Next
Humanitarian agencies plan to increase frozen-meat shipments, but Israeli restrictions on crossings continue to limit quantities. The cease-fire remains fragile, and further violations could exacerbate the humanitarian and religious hardships already faced by Gaza’s residents.
