Gaza: Instead of getting candies for Eid like other children, 12-year-old Ahmad Hussain sells them to people to give to their own children in Al Saha square, one of the biggest markets in the Gaza Strip.
Hussain stands in the same spot every day from dawn to dusk, selling his treats.
“Neither I nor my brothers bought clothes or stuff [for Eid] since there is no time or money for joy or happiness in our house. We can barely provide [for our] necessities,” Hussain told Gulf News.
Across the Muslim world, it is a tradition to buy new clothes and toys for children before Eid Al Fitr. Candies and other sweets are also given as gifts.
But in Gaza, many children are finding themselves compelled to work longer hours to capitalise on the opportunity to make extra money on Eid.
The crippling Israeli siege of Gaza has been in place since 2007 when Hamas overtook the Gaza Strip. Since then, families have found it increasingly difficult to provide their family a decent income.
“I actually don’t remember celebrating any previous Eids. I’ve always had to work on Eid because my family is very poor. My father does labour work only a couple days a week. I have four younger siblings to support,” he said.
Children often step up to the plate to help their struggling families, selling trinkets and candies on the streets.
Last year a report from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said that nearly 50,000 children are working in the Gaza Strip.
