Lifestyle

Muslims in Palestine gear up to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr amid renewed coronavirus lockdown measures

18 May 2020

Palestinian women form traditional cookies in preparation for the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr holiday.

Palestinians rejoice and prepare traditional food and decorations to welcome the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr holiday which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

By wearing protective face-masks and gloves due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Palestinians move around carrying trays of delectable food as the authorities ease out the lockdown restrictions.

Authorities in Palestine have said that the lockdown throughout the West Bank will be renewed during the upcoming Muslim religious holiday of Eid Al-Fitr despite the slowdown in coronavirus cases.

A Palestinian woman hands out traditional cakes to a family ahead of the upcoming holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye said that the government has decided to ban movement of the public during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the ongoing Muslim holy month of Ramzan to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

He said in a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah that movement will be banned in all cities, towns and villages for four days throughout the holiday starting from May 22 night.

Palestinians have their Iftar meal along a beach during a heat wave amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

Ishtaye told reporters that the government will consider easing the lockdown measures after the holiday depending on the situation of the coronavirus pandemic especially that many Palestinian workers will return from Israel into the West Bank for the holiday.

Meanwhile, businesses of all sectors were allowed to continue working as usual until the eve of the holiday.

A man wearing protective face masks and gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic, bakes traditional cookies.