Jerusalem

Ramadan returns to the Palestinians under tragic circumstances, with the war continuing in Gaza, hopes for a truce evaporating, and amid the specter of famine threatening the residents of the Strip. In Jerusalem, Israel imposed strict security measures in the Old City, and tens of thousands are expected to arrive every day to perform prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. In the West Bank, risks remain high, as restive cities such as Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nablus prepare for more clashes.

Published on: 03/10/2024 – 22:06

7 minutes

Solve RAMADAN month Monday against the Palestinians in a gloomy atmosphere and amid tight security measures from the Israeli police, while it continues The war in Gaza Which is witnessing widespread hunger, while talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire have apparently faltered.

With the advent of the fasting month, thousands of police officers were deployed in the narrow streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, where tens of thousands are expected to arrive every day to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The hill on which Al-Aqsa Mosque is located has long been a flashpoint for violence, and was also one of the reasons for the outbreak of the previous war in 2021 between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which runs Gaza, and Israel.

The conflict, which lasted only ten days, pales in comparison to the current war, which is now in its sixth month. The war began on October 7, when thousands of Hamas fighters stormed Israel, which says their attack killed about 1,200 people. The ongoing, unrelenting Israeli campaign in Gaza has raised growing concern around the world, as the growing threat of famine threatens to raise the number of Palestinian deaths, which has already exceeded 31,000.

After a state of confusion last month when the far-right Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said that he wanted to impose restrictions on worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the numbers that will be allowed to enter will be similar to last year.

Calls for calm in Jerusalem

Azzam Al-Khatib, director of the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem, which supervises Al-Aqsa Mosque, said: “Everyone must adhere to the instructions of the Islamic Endowments: calm, patience, and not crowding… This is our mosque and we must preserve it, and we must preserve the presence of Muslims in this mosque.” And that they come in large numbers, in peace and security, God Almighty willing.”

In contrast to previous years, the Old City did not see the usual decorations, and a similar somber atmosphere prevailed in towns across the occupied West Bank, where about 400 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with security forces or Jewish settlers since the beginning of the war in Gaza. Ammar Sidr, one of the sheikhs of the Old City, said: “This year we decided by an official decision that the Old City will not be decorated, out of respect for the blood of our children and the blood of our elders and martyrs.”

The police said that they were working to ensure a calm atmosphere during the month of Ramadan and had taken additional measures to eliminate what they described as provocative and distorted information on social media platforms. They added that they had arrested 20 people suspected of inciting terrorism. She continued in a statement: “The Israeli police will continue efforts and allow Ramadan prayers to be held safely on the Temple Mount while maintaining security and safety in the area.”

Israeli security measures at Al-Aqsa Mosque have long been considered one of the most discontented issues in the Islamic world. Clashes that broke out last year when the police entered the mosque campus sparked condemnations from the Arab League as well as from Saudi Arabia, with which Israel was seeking to establish diplomatic relations in an expansion of its efforts to build relations with regional powers such as the UAE.

Haniyeh holds Israel responsible for the faltering talks

Last month, Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, called on Palestinians to travel to the mosque at the beginning of the month of Ramadan.

On Sunday, Haniyeh held Israel responsible for the faltering ceasefire talks and rejected the movement’s demand to end the war on Gaza, but he said that Hamas was still seeking a negotiated solution. He also said that Tel Aviv has not yet committed to ending its attack, withdrawing its forces, and allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes across the Strip.

Haniyeh explained in a speech broadcast on television on the eve of Ramadan: “We do not want to give an agreement that does not end the war or bring back our brothers.” He added: “I tell you clearly, with all responsibility and impartiality, that the enemy has so far evaded giving clear guarantees and commitments, especially on the subject of a ceasefire, that is, stopping the aggressive war on the (Gaza) Strip.”

The head of Hamas’s political bureau also said that the movement is determined to defend the Palestinians, but at the same time seeks to reach a negotiated solution. He stated here: “Today, if we receive from the mediator brothers a clear position on the occupation, we are ready to reach the completion of the agreement and show flexibility regarding the issue of exchange and prisoners.”

“There are no preparations for Ramadan because we have been fasting for five months.”

Hopes for a ceasefire, which would have ensured the peaceful passage of Ramadan and allowed the return of some of the 134 Israeli hostages held in Gaza, appear to have been dashed as the talks in Cairo faltered. A Hamas official said that the movement is open to further negotiations, but to his knowledge no dates have been set for further meetings with mediators in the Egyptian capital.

The general mood was gloomy amid the ruins of Gaza, as half of the population of 2.3 million people gathered in the city of Rafah in the south of the Strip, where many of them live in plastic tents and face severe food shortages.

“We have not made any preparations for Ramadan because we have been fasting for five months,” said Maha, a mother of five, who usually stocked her house with decorations and her refrigerator with supplies for breakfast. She said via a messaging app from Rafah, where she lives with her family: “There is no food. We only have some canned goods and rice, and most of the food items are sold at ridiculously high prices.”

Philippe Lazzarini, Director-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said in a post on the Fear and anxiety amid threats of a military operation against Rafah.”

Fears and risks are high in the West Bank

In the town of Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, Palestinian health officials said that 13 people were killed in an Israeli air strike on a tent area where thousands of displaced people were sheltering. There has been no comment from Israel yet.

In the West Bank, which has witnessed unprecedented violence for more than two years and a further escalation since the war in Gaza, the risks are also high, as restive cities such as Jenin, Tulkarm and Nablus prepare for more clashes.

In Israel, fears of Palestinians carrying out ramming or stabbing attacks led to tightening security preparations.

For many in Gaza, there is no alternative but to hope for peace.

Nihad Al-Jed, who was displaced with her family in Gaza, said: “Ramadan is a blessed month, even though this year is not like every year, but we are steadfast and patient, and we will welcome the month of Ramadan as usual with decorations, songs, prayers, and fasting.” She added, “Next Ramadan, we hope that Gaza will return, and we hope that all the destruction and siege in Gaza will change, and everyone will return in better condition.”

France 24/Reuters

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2024-03-10 21:06:49