How Muslims in Jerusalem observed Ramadan and Eid amid 6 months of war in Gaza

Geoff Bennett:

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan has ended and with it comes celebration, Eid al-Fitr, the holiday of breaking the fast.

But in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, the mood is subdued as fellow Palestinians struggle in Gaza with hunger, even starvation, as the war between Israel and Hamas grinds on.

Nick Schifrin has this report.

Nick Schifrin:

At Jerusalem's Damascus gate, the main entrance to the Old City, the end of the holy month of Ramadan is usually festive and a treat for families.

But, this year, Jerusalem might say Eid's lights are dimmed and their spirits subdued. Mustafa and Emaan Abu Sway spent Ramadan's final morning preparing za'atar…

Emaan Abu Sway, Jerusalem Resident:

Yes, I am making this for my grandkids.

Nick Schifrin:

… a traditional Palestinian spice made of thyme. But in this thyme of turmoil, they say Ramadan has brought no joy.

Emaan Abu Sway:

Everybody here in Jerusalem, they are sad just because of the situation in Gaza. They don't have food. They don't have clothing. They live in tents. It's really bad for them. And we support them just not celebrate Eid.

Nick Schifrin:

Mustafa Abu Sway is an Islamic scholar and lecturer. He's a member of the prestigious Islamic Waqf Council in Jerusalem and for the past 12 years has worked at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine hosting VIPs.

Mustafa Abu Sway, Islamic Scholar, Al-Aqsa Mosque:

Unfortunately, with all these sad stories coming from the Gaza Strip, they had a great impact on our psyche, and our hearts are broken. We are sad.

Nick Schifrin:

But each day this Ramadan, the Al-Aqsa compound hosted tens of thousands of worshipers to break their fasts and pray together.

Friday prayers typically attracted more than 100,000 people. This relative peace was kept as a kind of quiet defiance, despite Hamas military wings, spokesman Abu Obaida's urging Palestinians to march on Al-Aqsa.

Abu Obaida, Spokesman, Hamas Military Wing (through translator):

We call on all our people not to allow the occupation, to impose facts on the ground. We also call on the mujahideen, resistance fighters and masses of our nation to declare jihad in every battlefield, in every arena.

Nick Schifrin:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spokeswoman Tal Heinrich:

Tal Heinrich, Spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister: Extremist terrorist organizations like Hamas, like Palestinian Islamic Jihad are trying to inflame the region and — even further, and not just our region. They have already called for attacks on Israelis and Jews during Ramadan.

Nick Schifrin:

But Netanyahu rejected calls from his own security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to ban Muslims under 70 from Al-Aqsa and restrict access even to Arab citizens of Israel.

Tal Heinrich:

The entry of worshipers to the Temple Mount will be permitted in similar numbers to previous years.

Mustafa Abu Sway:

Allowing all those youngsters from the — from Jerusalem, but also those who have Israeli citizenship, did lower the temperature, I would say. But let's not forget that those from the West Bank, only men above 55 and women above 50 were allowed. to come to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Mustafa Bader, Lecturer, Dar al-Kalima University: I can't just go. It's like a few kilometers in the north where I am. And I can't just go.

Nick Schifrin:

Mustafa Bader is a Palestinian lecturer and author at Dar al-Kalima in Bethlehem in the West Bank. Visiting Al-Aqsa used to be his Ramadan highlight. Not this year.

Mustafa Bader:

I was deprived from practicing the freedom of worship, but also from the freedom of movement. I can't visit Jerusalem. I can't visit family members who are living there.

When you're taking Jerusalem and not allowing us to visit it, it's like taking something from inside us.

Nick Schifrin:

But his focus remains on Gaza, as the U.N. warns of looming famine and Gazans marked Eid prayers on ruins in Rafah.

Mustafa Bader:

Palestine is losing lots of people, and it's very hard not to know someone who was killed in this conflict in Gaza.

Nick Schifrin:

As for Abu Sway, he goes to work every day and talks to worshipers about ending the war.

Mustafa Abu Sway:

It's about a call for cease-fire or sustained humanitarian aid, for really like Marshall Plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip.

Nick Schifrin:

But that call feels far off, even in the Old City, with the sound of nearby gunfire and a war that is miles away, but also close to home.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Nick Schifrin.