Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, is supposed to bring peace, love and harmony to all Muslims and the rest of the world, but for Palestinian Muslims, the reverse has always been the case. Research carried out by Muslim News Nigeria showed that between 2014 and 2018, Israeli Zionist soldiers have carried out deadly attacks on Palestinians, specifically during Ramadan, for six consecutive years.
The six years of Israeli aggressions in Ramadan – two executed barely days before Ramadan in 2015 and 2017 – including the ongoing attacks which started yesterday, Saturday, have led to the death of close to 3,000 Palestinians, among them minors, aged men and women, with over 15,000 wounded.
“The figures will rise if attacks on the other days in Palestine are added to the ones under investigation. Evidently, with or without Ramadan, Palestinians are prone to Israeli assault on a daily basis,” read the Muslim News investigations report.
See the analyses below:
Ramadan 2014
The apartheid Israeli regime led by Benjamin Netanyahu launched military operations against Gaza, Palestine on July 8, 2014, equivalent to 11th of Ramadan, killing 2, 304 Palestinians, among them children, aged males and females, with 10, 626 wounded according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Ramadan 2015
Prior to the beginning of Ramadan 2015 on June 17, Israel carried out indiscrimate airstrike attacks on Gaza, killing scores of Palestinians and injuring many. The operation was backed by the former US President Obama’s administration.
There was no visible death during Ramadan 2015, but Palestinians used the period to mark the first anniversary of the 2014 war, which saw Israel massacre 558 children and more than 2000 men and women.
Ramadan 2016
Between June 23 and 29, 2016 (Ramadan 18 – 24), the apartheid regime violated all international and humanitarian laws by attacking the occupied Palestinian territories ferociously. Scores of Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured, including journalists in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as 40 worshippers wounded in Masjid Aqsa, according to a report by the International Middle East Media Centre (IMEMC). No fewer than 330 Palestinians were also detained in Israeli prisons till the end of Ramadan.
Ramadan 2017
There were multiple attacks during the 2017 Ramadan, held between May 26 and June 24, but no death was documented, according to our findings. But prior to the fasting period, on May 15, few days before Ramadan, during the 69th Nakba anniversary, Palestinians marching for the Nakba (Day of Catastrophe) sustained various degrees of injury when Israeli forces fired lethal weapons at the protesters.
Ramadan 2018
On May 14, 2018, two days after the commencement of Ramadan 1439 AH, Israeli forces killed close to 100 Palestinians and wounded 1200 during protests against US’ illegal unilateral decision to recognise the disputed Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The 2018 attacks, during the Muslims’ holiest month, made it the bloodiest day in the coastal enclave since the 2014 war.
Ramadan 2019
Nine Palestinians, including a baby and her pregnant mother, were killed as Israeli Zionist soldiers fired deadly airstrikes into Gaza on Saturday night, barely 48 hours before the commencement of the Ramadan fast. Three Israelis have also lost their lives following dozens of rocket attacks fired from Gaza into southern Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu was reported to have ordered Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to continue with massive airstrikes into Gaza, which will no doubt have devasting effects on the Palestinian Muslims who will be embarking on the 29/30-day compulsory fasting tomorrow, Monday, May 6, 2019.
