02:40Dozens of Palestinian Muslims were seen gathering in Khan Younis on Sunday morning to perform the congregational Eid al-Adha prayer amid a scene of destruction and rubble.
Footage shows worshippers listening to the Eid sermon following prayer. Damaged and collapsed buildings as well as piles of rubble can be seen surrounding worshippers.
"My feeling is beyond description, honestly, it is a feeling filled with grief and repression. You can observe the frowned faces of the children, women and men all around, you can't feel the festivities," said one local.
"Last year, we marked the Eid among our families at home," he continued. "Today, how many children, widowed women and orphaned children have not celebrated Eid? There are no hints of Eid or joy."
Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), is one of the two major Islamic festivals. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, before God provided a ram to sacrifice instead.
Traditionally, Muslims around the world celebrate by sacrificing an animal and distributing the meat among family, friends and the needy. This festival also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
"We made many Eid sacrifices last year, thank God, unlike this year - we could not afford to sacrifice any animals. Praise be to God in any case, and may God solve all the Muslims' problems and grant them triumph by the next Eid," another local said.
Eid this year comes as fighting continues for the ninth month in Gaza after Hamas 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 37,296 people had been killed and more than 85,197 injured at the time of publication.
The IDF claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts 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.
'A feeling filled with grief' - Palestinians gather for Eid al-Adha prayers amid rubble in Khan Younis
Dozens of Palestinian Muslims were seen gathering in Khan Younis on Sunday morning to perform the congregational Eid al-Adha prayer amid a scene of destruction and rubble.
Footage shows worshippers listening to the Eid sermon following prayer. Damaged and collapsed buildings as well as piles of rubble can be seen surrounding worshippers.
"My feeling is beyond description, honestly, it is a feeling filled with grief and repression. You can observe the frowned faces of the children, women and men all around, you can't feel the festivities," said one local.
"Last year, we marked the Eid among our families at home," he continued. "Today, how many children, widowed women and orphaned children have not celebrated Eid? There are no hints of Eid or joy."
Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), is one of the two major Islamic festivals. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, before God provided a ram to sacrifice instead.
Traditionally, Muslims around the world celebrate by sacrificing an animal and distributing the meat among family, friends and the needy. This festival also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
"We made many Eid sacrifices last year, thank God, unlike this year - we could not afford to sacrifice any animals. Praise be to God in any case, and may God solve all the Muslims' problems and grant them triumph by the next Eid," another local said.
Eid this year comes as fighting continues for the ninth month in Gaza after Hamas 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 37,296 people had been killed and more than 85,197 injured at the time of publication.
The IDF claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts 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.
Dozens of Palestinian Muslims were seen gathering in Khan Younis on Sunday morning to perform the congregational Eid al-Adha prayer amid a scene of destruction and rubble.
Footage shows worshippers listening to the Eid sermon following prayer. Damaged and collapsed buildings as well as piles of rubble can be seen surrounding worshippers.
"My feeling is beyond description, honestly, it is a feeling filled with grief and repression. You can observe the frowned faces of the children, women and men all around, you can't feel the festivities," said one local.
"Last year, we marked the Eid among our families at home," he continued. "Today, how many children, widowed women and orphaned children have not celebrated Eid? There are no hints of Eid or joy."
Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), is one of the two major Islamic festivals. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, before God provided a ram to sacrifice instead.
Traditionally, Muslims around the world celebrate by sacrificing an animal and distributing the meat among family, friends and the needy. This festival also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
"We made many Eid sacrifices last year, thank God, unlike this year - we could not afford to sacrifice any animals. Praise be to God in any case, and may God solve all the Muslims' problems and grant them triumph by the next Eid," another local said.
Eid this year comes as fighting continues for the ninth month in Gaza after Hamas 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 37,296 people had been killed and more than 85,197 injured at the time of publication.
The IDF claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts 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.