PETALING JAYA: Lost in the solemnity of his spare dormitory, Omar Abu Ghazaleh exudes a quiet strength as he shares his plans for a subdued Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration this year.
With a heavy heart, the 19-year-old engineering student at Universiti Malaya reflects on the absence of loved ones lost to the ravages of war, their memories casting a shadow over a typically joyous occasion.
His simple Palestinian keffiyeh, a cotton headdress traditionally worn by men, speaks volumes of his unwavering solidarity with his compatriots who are now facing an Israeli onslaught.
The ongoing war in Gaza has already killed more than 33,600 Palestinians and 1,100 Israelis since Oct 7 last year.
Rather than indulge in the usual festivities, Omar’s family has chosen to forgo new clothes and other luxuries in a show of solidarity with their compatriots in Palestine.
“Every time a family member visits me, we talk about loved ones who have been lost to the war,” Omar told FMT.
“We remember all those in Gaza who are now left without clothes and other belongings,” he added.
“It’s very difficult for (this year’s) Aidilfitri to feel the same. It’s been very difficult to accept that it is a holiday… a time of celebration.
“We are going about it differently… The only thing that has stayed with us this Ramadan is praying and connecting with Allah, and directing all our prayers towards our brothers and sisters in Gaza,” he said.
‘The joy is missing’
Wasim Alajrami, another Palestinian residing in Malaysia, shares Omar’s sentiments.
For the 28-year-old IT executive, Aidilfitri is a time of getting together to celebrate as a community.
However, images of violence and loss loom large, dampening the spirits of Palestinians worldwide.
“I’ve lost so many family members during this war,” he told FMT.
“Aidilfitri to Palestinians is about community, but how can we celebrate or be joyful when we know there is so much blood lost?
“It makes us uneasy to (think of) celebrating. The joy is missing (this year).”
While Wasim will still be going to Johor to visit his in-laws, he will not be posting any Aidilfitri photos or messages on social media as he usually did.
“If I celebrate Aidilfitri here, what about my family in Palestine? They have nothing,” he said.
“It’s quite different (this year). It has affected my heart, yet I still have to show everyone a smile.”
A sense of home in Malaysia
Omar is celebrating his second Aidilfitri away from home and family, yet he remains connected to his roots.
He has heartfelt chats over video calls with his loved ones in Palestine, finding solace in the shared traditions and culture that bind them.
While he is a long way from his homeland, Omar feels “a sense of home” in Malaysia, thanks to the warm welcome extended to him by the friends he has made here and the local Palestinian community.
Even while he is surrounded by strangers in the bustling streets of Kuala Lumpur, Omar is comforted by the outpouring of affection for Palestine.
From flags fluttering in the wind to stickers on car windscreens, Omar said, the unwavering support Malaysians have shown for Palentine serves as a beacon of hope for him and a reminder that his compatriots are not alone in their struggles.
“Not a day goes by in Kuala Lumpur when I don’t see someone with a Palestinian flag or wearing a Palestinian shirt or have a sticker on their car,” said Omar.
“They may be very simple gestures, (but) it means a lot to me and makes me feel very welcomed.”
Omar and Wasim’s stories serve as a poignant reminder of the power of faith, solidarity, and community to bring light even during the darkest of times.
As the world comes together in solidarity with Palestine, their tales stand as a testament to the enduring resilience of the human spirit this Aidilfitri. - FMT
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