Doha, Qatar – Haya al-Balai is preparing for another quiet Ramadan in Qatar. She marks the Holy Moon of Muslims as her grandmother far from home.
Israeli war with Gaza is torn apart her family.
The 16-year-old arrived in Qatar’s capital in December 2023 after his parents were killed in an Israeli air attack. Al Barai was injured in the attack and is now paraplegic.
One of her injured sisters is in Türkiye. Her other two sisters and brothers remain in Gaza.
“I don’t want to celebrate Ramadan here. I was enjoying Ramadan with my family. We eat together and play games. My family was with me at the time,” Haya said.
Israeli war with Gaza since October 2023 has resulted in orphans of more than 38,000 Palestinians.
About 1,400 Palestinians were evacuated to Doha, of which around 500 were injured.
Most of them currently live in Tumama’s compounds, located in the southern suburbs of Qatar’s capital.
For Muslims around the world, Ramadan is an era of fasting, prayer and reflection, and a time to share with your loved ones.
For many Palestinian evacuees in Doha, this Ramadan marks another year of separation from the Gaza family.
12-year-old Hamsa Al-Raqp lost his left eye and smashed his right arm in an Israeli Air Force attack. She remembers the happiness of playing games with her cousin during Ramadan in Gaza.
Her father, Maher, said the family has not celebrated Ramadan since the start of the war in Gaza.
“We did nothing for Ramadan as the murders continued last year. I watched TV all day long and worried about my family still in Gaza. I check them every day to make sure they are alive,” Maher said. “This year in Ramadan, my wife and three children remain in Gaza, so it’s no different to me.”
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