Feature: Gazans brace for Ramadan with tears and hopes

Palestinians in Gaza will spend this Ramadan with empty pockets and a weak economy, in the hope that Israel would soon relax the blockade and Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas would end their internal split shortly.

Ibrahim al-Masri, a 50-year-old Palestinian from the northern Gazan town of Beit Hanoun, has not only lost his home, which was completely destroyed, but also his wife, two sons and daughter. They were all killed in an Israeli strike on their house last Ramadan.

"This Ramadan is going to be very difficult for me because my family won't be with me at the table to break the Ramadan fast," said al-Masri with deep sadness as he pointed to his demolished home, saying "This here used to be our dining room where my family and I ate together last year."

His wife used to prepare the Ramadan meal in the evenings, while his daughter and two other children would help their mother set the table. The daughter was engaged and about to get married at that time.

"I lost both my house and my family with a single rocket. We were sitting at home peacefully, posing no danger to the Israelis," said al-Masri, currently living in a caravan donated to him and dozens of other displaced families by Turkey and Qatar.

Scenes of destruction in areas near the eastern Gaza Strip and Israeli borders haven't changed. It looks like the war only ended this week. An agreed-upon plan for the reconstruction of Gaza has been proceeding at snail pace due to political differences between Palestinian rivals.

It has been almost a year since Israel launched its 50-day large-scale military air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip. One year has passed without improvement in living conditions nor the economy.

Under Hamas rule and an Israeli tight blockade, around 1.8 million Palestinians are preparing for the approaching Muslim holy month of Ramadan starting Thursday.

In Gaza city's downtown main market, various kinds of goods, including meat and dairy products, are available. Mustafa Zeineldien is a 45-year-old food store owner. He said trade and commercial activities this year are poor due to high poverty and employment rates.

"The catastrophic outcome of the Israeli siege and the internal split negatively influenced trade activities in the market," said Zeineldien, adding that "the consequences and horrible images of last summer's Israeli war on Gaza are still fresh wounds."

Store owners and customers coming to purchase cheaper goods said that before Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007, commercial activities were excellent, but then started declining year by year.

"After eight years under siege and eight years of internal splits and a year of Israeli war, I can honestly state the economy is deteriorating," said Osama Murtaja, who owns a food store selling cheese, pickles and spices.

In June 2007, Israel imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip, deeming it a hostile entity right after Hamas's violent takeover of the coastal enclave. Political internal splits started simultaneously between Gaza ruled by Hamas and the West Bank ruled by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

The Israeli blockade and the internal split reflected negatively on people's lives in general and on the economy in particular. During the last eight years, rates of unemployment soared to over 46 percent in the Gaza Strip, according to a report from a local organization, while poverty rose to 55 percent.

The 50-day conflict last year severely deteriorated life conditions in the coastal enclave, and tens of thousands of people are still homeless since their homes were destroyed.

A Gaza rights group report said that since 2007 over 80,000 Palestinians lost their jobs and currently depend on international aid. Those individuals were the source of income for over half a million people in the Gaza Strip.

Annas Amro, a Hamas employee with them following the movement's violent takeover of the Strip said he doesn't get a regular monthly salary. The father of four children said that since he doesn't get paid regularly, Ramadan this year will be very challenging.

"Since the Palestinian unity government was formed, I get paid 192 U.S. dollars every 63 days," said Amro, adding "My monthly salary is supposed to be 390 U.S. dollars, so I don't know how I will enjoy the month of Ramadan this year." Endit