Gazans Mark `Eid in Zoo

"We went to the zoo because we want to breathe freely; to feel that we are still alive," Abou Khaled Ashour told IslamOnline.net Thursday, December 20.

"We are under siege but our children must enjoy themselves in `Eid Al-Adha," added Abou Khaled who could not afford an Udhiyah (sacrificial animal) this `Eid due to the deplorable economic conditions in Gaza.

Israel has tightened since June, when Hamas took over the strip, restrictions on the impoverished territory, banning nearly all exports, limiting imports to humanitarian goods and slashing the amount of fuel supplied to the walled-off enclave.

The Israeli closure of crossings, particularly the main Rafah crossing, has cost some 80,000 Gazans to lose their jobs, according to the World Food Program.

The Gaza zoo opens its doors throughout the four-day `Eid at nominal ticket fares and holds free-of-charge cartoon and aragoz (hand puppet) shows for children. The funfair is also for free.

"The visitors would enjoy a wide array of animals," Gaza zoo director Emad Qassem said, standing beside a cage containing rare badgers.

"We want to get our fellow Gazans and their children out of their gloomy mood and depression," he added.

Badgers, Siamese cats, bucks, goats, lions, peacocks are some of the most-watched animals at the Gaza zoo.

Only Joy

The zoo has become the only joy of `Eid for Gaza children with no balloons, toys or new clothes traditionally bought for the `Eid.

"We want to break such a tense and suffocating mood enveloping us," mother-of-four Soha Al-Zahrana said.

She says the Gaza zoo has become the only source of relief and relaxation.

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