The hope that there will be no fighting for 40 days from the beginning of Ramadan is gone. Egyptian mediators have arranged meetings with some Hamas members so that they can discuss the pact to be made with Israel, but nothing positive has come out yet.

Hamas is said by Israel to be “holding to its position,” and it seems not eager to agree. There are attempts being made towards setting free many hostages under Hamas captivity. The plan suggests letting go of a number of Israeli hostages to give them back their Palestinian prisoners and also giving more aid.

Influence on Ramadan Celebrations

Upcoming Ramadan celebrations have been overshadowed by the prevailing circumstances. Most Palestinians are not in the mood to celebrate or join in their usual cultural activities as they witness what is going on in Gaza on a daily basis. Although everything seemed peaceful when I went to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque, those who attended with me were worried and felt unhappy because of the state of affairs. Jerusalem’s Historical Significance and Tensions

Both Palestinians and Israelis attach great importance to Jerusalem due to its history and religion. The al-Aqsa Mosque has been turned into a symbol of resistance in a broader sense ever since East Jerusalem, including the Old City, was taken over by Israel in the course of the 1967 Middle East War. Many times, there are clashes between Palestinians who come for worship and Israeli police, especially during Ramadan.

This makes tensions high not only when Israeli nationalists march at the Old City and when there are calls from the extreme right-wing in Israel to break the traditional rules of religious status at the site. These regulations allow Jews to visit and disallow Jewish prayer at the place. Previously, such tensions resulted in violent outbursts as well as civil unrest.

Gaza and Israeli Restrictions Control Ramadan in Jerusalem

Because of what is happening in Gaza, the manner of Ramadan in Jerusalem depends greatly on it. Israel put some constraints on those Palestinians living in the West Bank so that they cannot make entry into Jerusalem amidst this intifada or uprising, as is being referred upon a lot by many people in Palestine today. Under normal circumstances, many people would cross the Israeli military checkpoints while going for Friday prayers throughout this holy month.

Despite the fact that the Israeli government says it is dedicated to protecting everyone’s right to worship and helping people go to pray at the Temple Mount, some worry that there may be troublemakers who will seek to inflame passions as people observe Ramadan.

Global Watchfulness

Because of the increased stress and possibility of fighting, Jerusalem’s activities will face great attention all over. It is expected that there will be peace, and followers may pray peacefully. As Ramadan nears, the fear of violence spreading, especially in Jerusalem, is still there. Failure to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, as well as the great importance attached to the religious-cultural structure known as al-Aqsa Mosque, serve toward this end. Expectant eyes from around the globe will be on the city during this Ramadan, hoping that peace will prevail and nothing out of the ordinary will occur therein.