Eid in Milwaukee: 'It's hard to celebrate when you have family members who are still experiencing the conditions of war'

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Muslims around the world and in the Milwaukee area celebrated the end of Ramadan Wednesday after fasting for an entire month.

At the Baird/Wisconsin Center located in downtown Milwaukee, about 6,000 Muslims congregated on Wednesday's holy day. Some community members, however, told CBS 58 News that given the Israel-Hamas war abroad, the festivities this year looked and felt a little different.

"This is what's called Eid al-Fitr, the festival or the feast of breaking of the fast," said Islamic Society of Milwaukee's Executive Director 

Othman Atta.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and spend time in self-reflection and prayer.

But this year, many Muslims said the holiday has been overshadowed by the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip.

"We're supposed to be here celebrating but unfortunately, it's hard to celebrate when you have family members who are still experiencing the conditions of war," said Omar Salea. "Family members who are gone, who were supposed to be with us."

Salea, 28, said many of his relatives have been killed in their own homes by airstrikes.

"Cousin Henny, he had a wife and three children who all were killed, the youngest was about 4 months old," he added.

Atta took to the podium and read a lengthy pledge conveying a message of anti-genocide, anti-oppression and anti-any and all types of supremacy worldwide.

"Over the past six months, we have witnessed the greatest inhumanity of modern times," Atta said to the crowd. "We pledge to support the human rights and dignity of all human beings."

At least 33,360 Palestinians have been killed and about 75,993 others have been wounded since October 7, 2023, according to Reuters' latest reporting from Gaza's Health Ministry,

They say their hearts are in Gaza.

"We are hoping, and we are calling for an immediate and total ceasefire," Atta said.