During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset..

Ramadan arrived in Gaza in the wake of a war that lasted more than two years, but the usual sense of celebration was muted. Surging food prices and weakened purchasing power left many families struggling.

This cast a shadow over what was traditionally a joyous and blessed month.

Footage on Wednesday February 18, 2026 showed residents who walked through the markets alongside displays of dates, vegetables, fruits, pickles, and Ramadan decorations. Despite the colourful stalls, the economic reality for most shoppers was stark.

"Food and drinks are available, but they are not accessible to everyone because of the high

Reflecting on the situation before the war, he added, “People were able to buy, prices were reasonable, and everyone was working. Today, the situation is much more difficult.”

Yahya Yassin, another resident, echoed these concerns. "As you can see, the situation is very difficult now. There is no work, no jobs, and people have no money. It’s true that everything is available in the market, but there is no cash.”

The lack of financial stability is the primary hurdle this year. “There are families with no income at all,” said resident Jalal. However, he noted that the security situation this year has improved, adding, “People are present in the markets, but last year there was no one because people were afraid to come.”

The year 2026 Ramadan was the first since the ceasefire was declared in Gaza.

It followed two years during which residents of the Strip spent the holy month amid conflict, destruction, displacement, and severe shortages of food and medicine. While the absence of active shelling provided a respite, the recovery path remained steep.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered one of the holiest months for Muslims. During the month, fasting from dawn until sunset is observed as one of the five pillars of Islam.