In the second week of Ramadan, Palestinians in Jerusalem have tested the waters, gauging Israel’s limits and boundaries during the holy month. While the first week was marked by extreme tension, the atmosphere has slightly eased during the second half of the holy month. The Old City feels more alive—people are gathering for iftar in al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyard before heading to the mosque for tarawih prayers. They are indulging in qatayef for dessert, shopping at local stores, and children are playing at Damascus Gate and blowing bubbles in the streets.

Over the weekend, thousands of Palestinians from across Palestine arrived in buses to Jerusalem, eager to pray at al-Aqsa and experience the Ramadan spirit in the holy city. Jerusalem is the ultimate destination for Palestinians during this month, a reality reflected in the daily influx of people determined to keep the city alive despite restrictions and an overwhelming military presence at every corner. Notably, 80,000–90,000 worshippers are attending the Friday prayers in al-Aqsa, a significantly lower number compared to hundreds of thousands in prewar years.

Israel continues to cap the number of Palestinians holding Palestinian Authority (PA) IDs and arriving from elsewhere in the West Bank who are allowed into Jerusalem at 10,000 on Friday. Two Fridays have passed, yet unlike in previous years, the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit has not disclosed how many were actually permitted to pass through the checkpoints. Reports indicate that many are being turned away despite having all the required layers of security clearance and being the “right” age and gender1—especially those from northwestern areas of the West Bank like Jenin and Tulkarm, where Israel has intensified its crackdown on resistance movements in the cities and their refugee camps in recent months.2