٠٠:٠٥:١٥Displaced Palestinians in Rafah were seen gathering for Eid al-Fitr prayers on Wednesday amongst the debris of the destroyed Al-Farooq Mosque.
"We insisted on performing Eid prayers amid the rubble of Al-Farouk Mosque to convey a message to the whole world," said Abu Mohammed. "We will rebuild it and we will pursue our prayers under the sky but we will not leave our mosques."
Footage captures the displaced people and locals heading to the mosque's temporary tent and crowds praying outside.
"The Eid vibe last year was great as my house was still intact with my happy children around me, the children were delighted by the Eid outfits, and the house was decorated and the Eid preparations to welcome the relatives, friends and neighbours," recalled Mahmoud Fathi al-Hamaydeh.
"However, this Eid comes our hearts are broken as we can't make our children happy. The Eid happiness and atmospheres are absent in light of the bombardment, injuries, houses demolished and children's grief and heartbreak for not having Eid outfits," he added.
"The Eid this year is different as we lost our dearest people and our houses have been decimated," said another local. "Other Arab and Islamic peoples are celebrating this Eid in particular with visits…however we head to graves…Everything changed and our life has turned upside down."
The mosque was destroyed following an airstrike in February. At the time, he Israel military stated that Hamas 'terror infrastructure' was targeted in 10 locations in the area, with '20 terrorists' killed.
Eid al-Fitr comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is one of the main religious holidays.
Fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is currently in its seventh month. The Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 33,000 people had been killed and 75,000 injured at time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have stated that Hamas locations and infrastructure are targeted during the ongoing offensive in Gaza. United Nations experts have warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
'Prayers under the sky' - Displaced Palestinians celebrate Eid al-Fitr amid rubble of Al-Farooq mosque in Rafah
Displaced Palestinians in Rafah were seen gathering for Eid al-Fitr prayers on Wednesday amongst the debris of the destroyed Al-Farooq Mosque.
"We insisted on performing Eid prayers amid the rubble of Al-Farouk Mosque to convey a message to the whole world," said Abu Mohammed. "We will rebuild it and we will pursue our prayers under the sky but we will not leave our mosques."
Footage captures the displaced people and locals heading to the mosque's temporary tent and crowds praying outside.
"The Eid vibe last year was great as my house was still intact with my happy children around me, the children were delighted by the Eid outfits, and the house was decorated and the Eid preparations to welcome the relatives, friends and neighbours," recalled Mahmoud Fathi al-Hamaydeh.
"However, this Eid comes our hearts are broken as we can't make our children happy. The Eid happiness and atmospheres are absent in light of the bombardment, injuries, houses demolished and children's grief and heartbreak for not having Eid outfits," he added.
"The Eid this year is different as we lost our dearest people and our houses have been decimated," said another local. "Other Arab and Islamic peoples are celebrating this Eid in particular with visits…however we head to graves…Everything changed and our life has turned upside down."
The mosque was destroyed following an airstrike in February. At the time, he Israel military stated that Hamas 'terror infrastructure' was targeted in 10 locations in the area, with '20 terrorists' killed.
Eid al-Fitr comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is one of the main religious holidays.
Fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is currently in its seventh month. The Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 33,000 people had been killed and 75,000 injured at time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have stated that Hamas locations and infrastructure are targeted during the ongoing offensive in Gaza. United Nations experts have warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
Displaced Palestinians in Rafah were seen gathering for Eid al-Fitr prayers on Wednesday amongst the debris of the destroyed Al-Farooq Mosque.
"We insisted on performing Eid prayers amid the rubble of Al-Farouk Mosque to convey a message to the whole world," said Abu Mohammed. "We will rebuild it and we will pursue our prayers under the sky but we will not leave our mosques."
Footage captures the displaced people and locals heading to the mosque's temporary tent and crowds praying outside.
"The Eid vibe last year was great as my house was still intact with my happy children around me, the children were delighted by the Eid outfits, and the house was decorated and the Eid preparations to welcome the relatives, friends and neighbours," recalled Mahmoud Fathi al-Hamaydeh.
"However, this Eid comes our hearts are broken as we can't make our children happy. The Eid happiness and atmospheres are absent in light of the bombardment, injuries, houses demolished and children's grief and heartbreak for not having Eid outfits," he added.
"The Eid this year is different as we lost our dearest people and our houses have been decimated," said another local. "Other Arab and Islamic peoples are celebrating this Eid in particular with visits…however we head to graves…Everything changed and our life has turned upside down."
The mosque was destroyed following an airstrike in February. At the time, he Israel military stated that Hamas 'terror infrastructure' was targeted in 10 locations in the area, with '20 terrorists' killed.
Eid al-Fitr comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is one of the main religious holidays.
Fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is currently in its seventh month. The Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 33,000 people had been killed and 75,000 injured at time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have stated that Hamas locations and infrastructure are targeted during the ongoing offensive in Gaza. United Nations experts have warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.