The holy month of Ramadan began on Wednesday for Palestinians in Gaza and in many Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. However, people in Gaza are facing severe food shortages and lack clean water due to ongoing Israeli attacks. Despite a supposed "ceasefire", aid supplies remain limited, and attacks continue daily, killing more than 600 Palestinians since October. In occupied East Jerusalem, thousands prayed at Al-Aqsa Mosque amid heightened Israeli security and restrictions. Israel has issued over 250 orders barring Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa so far this year. Ramadan also started Wednesday for Sunni Muslims in Iraq, Lebanon, and Sudan. In contrast, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Malaysia, and others will begin fasting Thursday because their authorities did not sight the new moon on Tuesday. Some countries use moon sightings, while others rely on astronomical calculations, but all observe Ramadan as a sacred month when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. This month marks when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad nearly 1,450 years ago.