Gaza: While people in the besieged strip are struggling to provide the basic necessities of Eid Al Adha because of the bad financial situation, the Abu Al Jidan family is not celebrating the feast this year.
Umm Mosab, the newest widow among many others in the Gaza Strip, doesn’t work and is used to depending on her husband for support.
Full of sorrow, Umm Mosab Abu Al Jidan, the 20 year old widow, couldn’t find an answer for her daughter’s question, “Why is my father late with the bicycle he promised me for the Eid?”
Instead of preparing the house to welcome greeters. the young wife who is living in her husband’s family house was surrounded by many women wearing black, crying at the farewell of her husband.
Umm Mosab said while holding her daughter and son tight: “Previously, at this time of year, he would bring dates so that we can make cookies. He would buy me and his children new clothes and then take us to meet family members and relatives, then take us to the park and play with the kids.
“I don’t believe any one will ever cover his role and make us feel safe and happy again.”
Her husband, Yousuf Abu Al Jidyan, used to be a member of Al Qassam brigades. He was targeted by an Israeli air strike while launching a rocket towards the Israeli state two days ago.
Yousuf left behind him a young mother with two children Farah, 3, and Mosab, 2, who just recently said the word ‘dad’ one day before the death of his father, according to his family.
Umm Mosab said: “My husband was so affectionate with me and to his two children. He never let me feel sad; God rest his soul. I am afraid of the future but I have faith in God. I need to raise my children in a decent way and continue their father’s path.”
Yousuf’s mother, who was sitting in the middle of the group of women, said: “It’s hard for me to see my son buried in front of me, I wish that every Israeli mother feels the pain I’m going through now.”
Umm Mosab added, crying: “Sometimes, I ask myself why the Palestinian people can’t have a normal life and live the joy and cheerfulness during the feasts like others in the world. My daughter was asking me about her father since yesterday and I don’t know what to say to her.”
Being a woman in Gaza is one thing, but being a single mother of two children with no work is rather scary, she said.
The life of young widows in the besieged strip is hard since the children usually remain at the family house, which forces the women to remain with her children.
Hiba Al Balbesi, from the women’s affairs centre, said: “All the young widows in Gaza stick around to raise their children but we believe that around 20 per cent get remarried.”
