War Casts a Shadow Over Ramadan Celebrations

As the holy month comes to a close, Muslims across the Middle East struggle to find peace amidst the fear and uncertainty of war

A Disrupted Holy Month

Sara Elsherbiny was preparing to celebrate her birthday by breaking her Ramadan fast with friends at a restaurant in Dubai. However, as the sun set on February 28, explosions echoed nearby, rattling her home and shaking the city. "It was loud, actually the house shook, and that was the first time that we've experienced something like that," Elsherbiny told NBC News. In a different part of the city, Ali and his wife were also breaking their fast on the same day, watching missiles streak across the sky. "We broke our fast normally but the Ramadan vibes were no longer there," he said. "We were worried about further escalations."

Personal Stories of Fear and Resilience

The war has collided with deeply personal moments for many. A Dubai-based media professional, who did not want to be identified, said she went into labor on February 28 as explosions sounded across the city. "We didn't know what to do, shall we go to the hospital or call an ambulance?" she said. She and her husband ultimately drove to a nearby hospital, where doctors assured her she was safe. However, as she was being prepared for an epidural, phones in the room blared a warning alert urging people to stay indoors and away from windows due to a missile threat. "My body was shaking," she said. Others, like Samah, an entrepreneur who runs an entertainment business out of a Dubai warehouse, have come face to face with the terror of war. An explosion hit about 1.2 miles away while she was at work, killing a driver and leaving her shaken.

Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

Since the start of the war, more than 2,000 people have been killed across the Middle East. In Iran, Israeli and American strikes have killed more than 1,200 people, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. At least 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, and eight have been killed in the United Arab Emirates, according to local officials. Retaliatory strikes killed 15 civilians and two military personnel in Israel. Thirteen U.S. service members were killed in combat, while three died of non-combat causes. The war has also had a devastating impact on civilians, with an elementary school in southern Iran being struck on the first day of the war, killing more than 160 people, most of them children.

Calls for Accountability

U.S. officials have revealed that preliminary findings suggest American munition was probably responsible for the strike on the elementary school. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have urged the U.S. and Israel to investigate the attack as a war crime to hold those responsible accountable. As Ramadan comes to a close and Eid al-Fitr begins, Muslims across the Middle East are struggling to find peace amidst the fear and uncertainty of war. The region's residents are calling for an end to the violence and for those responsible to be held accountable for their actions.

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