Palestinians in Gaza are entering Ramadan with heavy hearts, as the Muslim holy month’s traditional festivities give way to grief and survival concerns during a fragile “ceasefire” that Israel violates on a daily basis.

“There is no joy after we lost our family and loved ones,” said Gaza City resident Fedaa Ayyad. “Even if we try to cope with the situation, we can’t truly feel it in our hearts … I am one of those who cannot feel the atmosphere of Ramadan.”

Ramadan began on Wednesday in Gaza, typically a period when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset while embracing family gatherings, spiritual devotion, contemplation, and generosity.

The reality in Gaza, however, is grim. Israel’s genocidal war has killed at least 72,061 people and wounded 171,715 since October 2023, according to the Ministry of Health. It has also shattered infrastructure and displaced the majority of the population. Financial hardship dominated conversations in markets this week.

“There is no cash among the people. There is no work. It is indeed Ramadan, but Ramadan requires money,” said Gaza City resident Waleed Zaqzouq, calling on merchants to recognise people’s economic struggles.

“Before the war, people lived a dignified life,” he added. “The situation has completely changed in the war, meaning people have been devastated and worn down.”

Harsh winter conditions have intensified suffering, with extreme cold killing children, and torrential rains flooding displacement camps and collapsing damaged buildings.

“There is much that has changed from this Ramadan to Ramadan before the war,” reflected Raed Koheel from Gaza City. “In the past, the atmosphere was more delightful. The streets were lit up with decorations. All streets had decorations. Our children were happy.”

Nevertheless, amid the overwhelming destruction, some Palestinians endeavour to maintain Ramadan traditions. In Khan Younis, calligrapher Hani Dahman painted “Welcome, Ramadan” in Arabic among the ruins as children looked on.

“We are here in Khan Younis camp, trying to bring happiness to the hearts of children, women, men and entire families,” Dahman said. “We are … sending a message to the world that we are people who seek life.”

Decorative Ramadan lights now hang among the debris. Mohammed Taniri, witnessing these efforts, observed: “When they provide such beautiful, simple decorations, it brings joy to the children. Despite all the hardships, they are trying to create a beautiful atmosphere.”

Peru’s Congress has ousted President Jose Jeri just four months into his term over multiple corruption allegations. The decision was made just weeks before a general election.

The trio will ‘continue working towards a deal’ in the third round of negotiations, US special envoy Steve Witkoff says.

Day two of the third round of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States is under way in Geneva, Switzerland, as the four-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour looms next week, with vague references to “progress” but nothing tangible yet shared.

Little has been made public about the talks’ contents since negotiations kicked off on Tuesday behind closed doors and continued on Wednesday morning.

Two previous rounds of discussions in Abu Dhabi failed to produce a path towards an elusive peace agreement, only producing prisoner of war and body exchanges between the two sides. The thorniest of issues, territory and the yielding of it, remains the key sticking point. The Kremlin is demanding all of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, not all of which it occupies. Kyiv refuses to countenance that, and Ukraine’s constitution forbids it.

But US special envoy Steve Witkoff signalled a positive tone, writing on X late on Tuesday that both Russia and Ukraine agreed to update their respective leaders and “continue working towards a deal”.

“President Trump’s success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress, and we are proud to work under his leadership to stop the killing in this terrible conflict,” he said, without sharing further details.

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s lead negotiator, meanwhile, thanked his American counterparts on X and Telegram “for their constructive engagement and readiness to work at a steady pace”.

After joint discussions, “we continued working in groups by areas,” Umerov said, focusing on “practical issues and the mechanisms of possible solutions”. He planned to discuss the results of the first day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said, and had also spoken with European partners.

In his nightly address, however, Zelenskyy questioned Russia’s commitment to a peace deal, citing heavy air attacks it carried out across Ukraine overnight on Tuesday.

“This very clearly shows what Russia wants, and what it’s intent on,” he said.

Russian officials pushed back on the criticism. In comments carried by Russia’s TASS news agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova blamed Kyiv and “Western Europe” for downplaying the negotiations and claimed Russia had proven “many times” that “we all truly want peace”.

“Any step that could lead to, or lead down a path toward, a resolution to the situation is of great importance,” she said.

Ongoing attacks

Despite the negotiations, fighting between Russia and Ukraine has continued apace.

Hours before the talks began on Tuesday, Ukraine said Russia launched 29 missiles and 396 drones overnight, killing at least four people and cutting off power to tens of thousands in southern Ukraine.

Another three people were killed in a Russian drone attack on a civilian car in Ukraine’s Donetsk region ahead of Wednesday’s negotiations, according to the state’s emergency service. Local officials also reported the death of a woman and injuries to six others in a drone attack in the Zaporizhia region.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the attacks showed “the extent to which Russia disregards peace efforts”.

For its part, Russia said Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks killed two people overnight on Wednesday and claimed to have repelled more than 150 Ukrainian drones over the previous day.

The crux of the talks is finding a negotiated end to the war that maintains Ukraine’s sovereignty, Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reported from Washington.

“That has been a challenge for the United States in working with Kyiv: Making sure Ukraine preserves its sovereignty and at the same time, giving it the long-term security guarantees that it’s looking for,” Halkett said.