International News: Christian in Gaza shares dates and water with Muslims in Ramadan rush hour

Published by BBNTEAM at April 13, 2023

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Posted: Thursday, April 13, 2023. 10:26 am CST.

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Just before sunset during Ramadan, traffic in Gaza becomes congested as people are hurrying home to be with their families in time to break the fast.

According to Reuters, Ehab Ayyad began sharing water and dates with those stuck in traffic during this time.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting.

After the sunset prayer, Muslims gather in their homes or mosques to break their fast with a meal called ifṭār that is often shared with friends and extended family.

The ifṭār usually begins with dates.

Ayyad is a Christian who began 5 years ago offering neighbours dates and water, the first thing Muslims normally eat when they end their fast at sunset.

“They first wondered how a Christian is doing that, but as days went by, they got happy to see me every year,” Ayyad said.

“Reactions are positive and I am happy and proud,” he added.

Gaza is run by the Islamist Hamas group and has only around 1,000 Christians, most of them Greek Orthodox, in a population of 2.3 million.

Ayyad also gets help from a 13-year-old Muslim neighbour to prepare the packages.

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