American Muslims Feel Urgent Need for Gaza Aid during Ramadan

This year’s Ramadan is more difficult for American Muslims because of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since the October 7 Hamas attack, Israel’s siege of Gaza has killed more than 30,000 people and injured 70,000 others. The UN says hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are on the brink of famine. Islamic Relief raised more than $30 million in online donations during Ramadan in 2023.

Many Muslims in America feel a heavier weight during this year’s Ramadan due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, complicating their usual excitement for the holy month and family rituals like iftar gatherings.

Israel’s siege of Gaza since the October 7 Hamas attack has resulted in over 30,000 deaths and 70,000 injuries, leading to a desperate situation with severe restrictions on aid, causing concerns about famine and acute food insecurity among hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

International efforts, including the European Union’s emergency maritime aid corridor and the US Military’s plan to build a temporary port for humanitarian relief, are being mobilized to address the worsening conditions in Gaza following the recent deadly events.

American Muslims are feeling a strong urge to fulfill their Islamic duty of zakat by donating to charities providing relief to Gaza, as the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with essential supplies like food and water being blocked.

Organizations like Islamic Relief are aiming to provide hot meals and aid to 250,000 people in Gaza throughout Ramadan, working with partners in the region to distribute food to areas in need, ensuring that fasting individuals have access to necessary sustenance during suhoor.

Despite not sharing the Islamic faith, individuals living in New York, are contributing to aid agencies like Islamic Relief to support Muslims in need during Ramadan, expressing concern for friends facing the holy month with limited resources.

CNN reports that Noor Traina, a 24-year-old consultant from Libya living in Washington, DC, emphasizes the importance of giving during Ramadan but questions the effectiveness of aid delivery, highlighting the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the need for continued pressure on lawmakers for a ceasefire.

Since the October 7 Hamas attack, Israel’s siege of Gaza has killed more than 30,000 people and injured some 70,000 others, according to the Ministry of Health in the enclave.

As desperation grows, and Israel’s severe restrictions on aid entering Gaza continue to diminish supplies, humanitarian groups are sounding the alarm over the worsening conditions as the United Nations says hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are on the brink of famine.

The European Union announced it’s opening an emergency maritime aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza with allies including the US. The day prior, President Joe Biden announced the US Military is planning to build a temporary port along the Gaza coast to try to deliver much-needed humanitarian relief.

The international push for aid comes after more than 100 people were killed earlier this month, when Israeli soldiers opened fire while people were gathering around food aid trucks according to eyewitnesses and Palestinian officials, who said chaos subsequently erupted, causing many to be run over by the trucks, injured or trampled.

CNN previously reported Israel confirmed its forces fired on people, saying crowds had threatened their troops, but disputed the account given by eyewitnesses and Palestinian officials.

Gaza’s entire population of roughly 2.2 million people is facing “crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity,” according to the World Food Programme, and the organization said child malnutrition in Gaza is “higher than anywhere in the world.”

In 2023, the nonprofit Islamic Relief raised more than $30 million in online donations during Ramadan, according to a spokesman for the organization.

Awrad Saleh, assistant director for international programs and partnerships at the nonprofit, said her organization has found “people want to give during Ramadan more than any other time.”

Islamic Relief’s goal this year, she said, is to have food donations and aid available from the first day of Ramadan to the last in each of the countries where they assist.

She said they hope to reach 250,000 people and are working with partners in the region to distribute the meals to areas that include Khan Yunis and Rafah.

In addition to the hot meals, they’re also providing vegetables for suhoor, which is the time people typically consume a meal before fasting at dawn.