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Tearful `Eid at Rafah Crossing
ARISH, Egypt —Mahmoud Abu Ali wished that `Eid Al-Adha would not come this year, being one of hundreds of Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian side of Rafah far away from his wife and four kids, which twisted the knife further in his wound.
"It is breaking my heart that I can't be with them in these days," Abu Ali told IslamOnline.net, his voice breaking.
"As I'm stuck in here, with no job or money, there will be no new`Eid clothes or toys for the kids," added Abu Ali, who also missed `Eid Al-Fitr with his family in October.
Abu-Ali is one of nearly 1,000 Palestinians who spend the four-day `Eid Al-Adha, which starts Wednesday, December 19, stranded at the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing.
The Rafah crossing, the only gate for Gazans to the outside world and into their homeland, has been shut by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in June, leaving hundreds of Palestinians stuck on the Egyptian side.
With deep somber voices and tearful eyes, the stranded Palestinians found solace in exchanging `Eid greetings with their families by telephone.
With the start of the freezing cold of winter in the Northern Sinai city of Arish, the stranded huddled together in dozens of rundown chalets scattered across the seaside city to protect themselves from the elements.
Forgotten
Ayman Mustafa used to sacrifice a sheep every year like all well-off Muslims in `Eid Al-Adha and distribute its meet among the needy and the poor.
"I now deserve this Udhiyah meat," said Mustafa, fighting back tears.
Trapped Palestinians say their grief is doubled as the world is giving them the could shoulder.
More
"As I'm stuck in here, with no job or money, there will be no new`Eid clothes or toys for the kids," added Abu Ali, who also missed `Eid Al-Fitr with his family in October.
Abu-Ali is one of nearly 1,000 Palestinians who spend the four-day `Eid Al-Adha, which starts Wednesday, December 19, stranded at the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing.
The Rafah crossing, the only gate for Gazans to the outside world and into their homeland, has been shut by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in June, leaving hundreds of Palestinians stuck on the Egyptian side.
With deep somber voices and tearful eyes, the stranded Palestinians found solace in exchanging `Eid greetings with their families by telephone.
With the start of the freezing cold of winter in the Northern Sinai city of Arish, the stranded huddled together in dozens of rundown chalets scattered across the seaside city to protect themselves from the elements.
Forgotten
Ayman Mustafa used to sacrifice a sheep every year like all well-off Muslims in `Eid Al-Adha and distribute its meet among the needy and the poor.
"I now deserve this Udhiyah meat," said Mustafa, fighting back tears.
Trapped Palestinians say their grief is doubled as the world is giving them the could shoulder.
More
For more information:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satelli...
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