As Muslims prepare for Ramadan when they fast and pray to grow closer to Allah. This high holiday continues for 30 days, and it is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar when Muslims are asked to abstain from sex, smoking, swearing, arguments or gossip. Pregnant, breastfeeding and menstruating women are exempt from the fast children, the elderly and the ill also are not required to participate.
While dates vary each year, Ramadan in 2018 begins on the evening of May 15 in many Arab countries, the United States and Europe. Fasting will begin on May 16 — the last 10 nights are considered a time of intense worship. To commemorate the month-long holiday, some worshipers are coming up with new ways to spread the festive cheer.
At the same time, increased tensions have reached the boiling point high between Israelis and the Palestinians after more than 50 resistors were killed in protests after the US Embassy was moved to Jerusalem.
The protests have been taking place for weeks along the Gaza border, as Israel also marked 70 years since the Jewish nation was established. Palestinians annually mark their resulting displacement on Nakba Day, or the Day of Catastrophe, on May 15. The Palestine Liberation Organization has called a general strike across the West Bank and Gaza following the deaths.
Gaza bloodshed spurs global worry about US Mideast policies https://www.apnews.com/428ae602fbfb487289e7bb77e20ee007
U.N. warns of more Gaza violence, condemns Israel's use of force https://reut.rs/2IJp8JU
Palestinians bury dead after bloodiest Gaza day since 2014 https://www.apnews.com/07d64de68b5f4e67b83f96174e779926
Gaza: Nakba day protests as Palestinians bury those killed in embassy unrest – live updates https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/may/15/gaza-israel-nakba-da…
BBC News - Tension in Gaza as Palestinians begin to bury 58 dead http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44116340