World Bulletin / News Desk

While children around the world welcomed Ramadan with festivities full of excitement, Israeli airplanes targeted the besieged enclave with heavy shelling leaving the children of Gaza crying in fear. 

"The strikes were so strong that I felt a new war was being waged on Gaza," Ruba al-Zaanein told Anadolu Agency on Sunday, June 29.

"Instead of cheering the advent of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the children were crying," she lamented.

1.8 million Gaza inhabitants were full of fear and distress during the first hours of Ramadan on Saturday night and throughout Sunday. 

The cheerfulness of Ramadan that fillde the houses of the residents didnt last too long as Israel launched repeated strikes against Gaza overnight.

"The noise of the planes was frightening," said 9-year-old Basmala Abdurrahman.

"My mother told me that God will save Gaza if we pray for this at the mosque," said Abdurrahman.

Due to the continuous shelling the first meal planned to be made on the first day of Ramadan was ruined.

"I was hoping that the meal would be a special one," Salma Hemeid, 42, told AA.

"I was, however, totally hand-tied by the explosions and the shrapnel everywhere," she added.

Rasha Naeem, a mother of seven, had to hard to allay the fears of her children who were awaken by the noise of the Israeli aircraft.

"It's Gaza's fate to experience these terrifying nights every now and then," Naeem said.

"Isn't it enough that we have been living in this blockade all these years?" she asked.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri warned Israel against going too far.

"The response of the resistance has been limited, and Netanyahu must not test Hamas's patience," said Abu Zuhri.

Gaza has been blockaded by Israel since 2006, leaving more than 1.8 million Gazans cut off from the outside world and struggling with desperate poverty.

A UN report said last May that poverty stood at 40 percent among Gaza population, of whom 80 percent depended on outside aid.