Lanterns over rubble: Gaza marks first Ramadan after war with fragile hope

On the shattered remains of a six-story home in southern Gaza's Abu Sufyan neighborhood, colored lanterns now sway above broken concrete. Children climb over collapsed walls, stretching wires between tents and bombed-out structures, determined to decorate their streets for Ramadan—the first since a ceasefire halted Israel's devastating two-year war that reduced much of the enclave to ruins.

Reclaiming Life Amid Destruction

For residents of Khan Younis, hanging decorations is more than a seasonal tradition—it is an act of defiance and resilience. Where ash and dust once dominated, banners reading "Ramadan Mubarak" now hang above alleyways still scarred by bombardment. Red and yellow lights pierce the gray skyline, powered by small generators that run only hours each night. Children run between the tents that replaced their homes, laughing and testing lanterns that survived the war alongside them.

A Survivor's Determination

Yasser Al-Sattari, a local resident overseeing the decorations, lost his home, wife, sister, and extended family members during the conflict. Yet he insisted the decorations must go up. "We refuse to let war steal Ramadan joy from our children," he said. "They have already lost too much." For Sattari and his neighbors, this Ramadan carries a different meaning than the previous two, which unfolded under bombardment and famine-like conditions. "We survived," he said simply. "And that is why we celebrate."

Ramadan Under Fragile Ceasefire

The past two Ramadans saw families struggling to secure basic food for iftar and suhoor amid widespread displacement. Entire neighborhoods remain flattened, with thousands still missing under rubble. Electricity remains largely unavailable—Israel cut power supplies at the war's onset and continues restricting fuel for Gaza's only power plant. Officials estimate over 5,000 kilometers of electricity networks and 2,000 transformers were destroyed, with losses of $1.4 billion. Yet when night falls, lanterns flicker above tents and cracked facades.

A Message Written in Light

The light is faint, the wires are fragile, the streets remain broken. But in Abu Sufyan, the message is unmistakable: Ramadan will come, even if it must pass over rubble. The US-backed ceasefire, in place since October 10, halted a war that killed more than 72,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 171,000. Since the agreement took effect, Gaza's Health Ministry reports Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations through shelling and gunfire, killing 603 Palestinians and injuring 1,618. Still, lanterns glow—a testament to a people refusing to surrender their faith or their humanity.