The Old City

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Saeed Qaq/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Palestinians Are Alert and in Mourning as They Mark Second Ramadan since the Gaza Genocide Began
Snapshot
This year, Ramadan in Jerusalem’s Old City is not a festive time as Palestinians remain in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and are anxious and tense due to Israel’s militarization of the Islamic holy month.
Jerusalem hesitates as it welcomes Ramadan this year. The alleys, usually aglow with festive decorations, are dimmer than ever. Damascus Gate, one of the seven open gates in the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem, once bustling with vendors and people of all ages gathering, now hosts only a handful of stalls and mostly groups of young men.
“Police in every corner” feels like an understatement, making every Palestinian’s movement feel scrutinized. The atmosphere is subdued—Palestinians come to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque and, for the most part, leave soon after. The clearest sign of the holy month’s arrival is the increased presence of people in the Old City; otherwise, only scattered lantern stalls hint at the Ramadan spirit.
Palestinians remain steadfast in solidarity with their brethren in Gaza, who continue to endure the aftermath of a 470-day-long genocide. Just last week, as the first stage of the ceasefire deal ended, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid into Gaza just as Ramadan began.1
Notes
Jaroslav Lukiv and Paul Adams, “Israel Blocks Entry of All Humanitarian Aid into Gaza,” BBC News, March 2, 2025.