International Courant
Occupied East Jerusalem – The temper in occupied East Jerusalem is tense as the town’s Palestinians put together for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
From dawn to sundown, Ramadan requires practising Muslims to abstain from consuming, ingesting, smoking and sexual relations earlier than breaking their quick with mates, household and communities.
However Palestinians who spoke to Al Jazeera say they’re too depressed to place up decorations or participate in festivities.
Many are merely praying for a ceasefire in Gaza, the place greater than 30,000 individuals have been killed by Israel in retaliation for a lethal assault on Israeli civilians and navy outposts by the Qassam Brigades and different Palestinian armed fighters on October 7.
Others concern that Israeli authorities and far-right settlers will assault Palestinians throughout the holy month as a part of a broader marketing campaign of collective punishment, as has occurred earlier than.
“I am actually involved about potential provocations,” stated Munir Nuseibah, a Palestinian human rights lawyer residing in east Jerusalem. “We have now realized from the previous that the extra police presence and police intervention in East Jerusalem throughout Ramadan, the extra we’ll see (violent) confrontations.”
Historical past of violence
Throughout Ramadan, tensions repeatedly rise across the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest web site in Islam. Palestinians from throughout the occupied West Financial institution lengthy to wish on the mosque, however Israeli police have historically blocked entry and attacked worshipers.
Israeli police arrest a Palestinian worshiper on the Al-Aqsa Mosque throughout Ramadan on April 5, 2023 (Mahmoud Illean/AP Photograph)
Final yr, Palestinians resorted to barricading themselves within the mosque to stop Israeli police from interfering itikafa spiritual observe involving spending complete nights in prayer and worship in mosques.
However Israeli safety forces managed to interrupt by means of, firing stun grenades and tear fuel and indiscriminately beating worshippers, together with girls and the aged. A minimum of 450 Palestinian males had been arrested.
“There’s nothing inherently violent about Al-Aqsa and definitely nothing inherently violent about Ramadan. It is necessary to maintain that in thoughts as a result of some individuals get the concept that that is all about Islam,” stated Daniel Siedmann, a lawyer and Jerusalem resident.
Palestinians attribute many of the violence to provocative measures by Israeli authorities, who occupied the town and the holy web site.
Israeli police usually enable a whole bunch of Israeli Jews – who name the Al-Aqsa Mosque the Temple Mount – entry to the holy web site, in violation of the most recent establishment settlement between Israel, Jordan, Palestine and america. 2015 have confirmed.
The settlement stipulates that Al-Aqsa Mosque will probably be a spot of worship completely for Muslims, however will enable entry to non-Muslims on particular days and hours. Nevertheless, many concern that far-right Israeli ministers will attempt to provoke Palestinians by permitting Israelis into the mosque to taunt or conflict with worshipers.
“There’s warning and concern on everybody’s half that Israeli settlers will attempt to provoke the Palestinians. The Israeli authorities is in opposition to the Palestinian individuals,” stated Rony, a 27-year-old Palestinian from occupied East Jerusalem.
A flashpoint?
The Israeli police are managed by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right Minister of Nationwide Safety. In February, he known as for a ban on Palestinian residents of the West Financial institution from praying in mosques throughout Ramadan.
Israeli officers later overruled his suggestion in an obvious try to keep up calm in Jerusalem, however stated they might impose some restrictions for “safety causes.”
Seidmann stated Ben-Gvir can nonetheless trigger chaos even when he instructions officers exterior the compound.
“The truth that Ben-Gvir has no affect on what occurs on the gates of Al-Aqsa doesn’t imply that he won’t trigger issues 200 or 300 meters away from the mosque,” he advised Al Jazeera.
Any violence in opposition to Palestinian worshipers in East Jerusalem or the remainder of the occupied West Financial institution might result in mass unrest, warns Ibrahim Matar, a Christian Palestinian from occupied East Jerusalem.
He stated Al-Aqsa is symbolic for all Palestinians and recalled how the late Palestinian chief Yasser Arafat left the closely criticized peace course of in 2000, partly as a result of Israel insisted on retaining sovereignty over the mosque.
Two months later, then Israeli opposition chief Ariel Sharon stormed Al-Aqsa with greater than a thousand closely armed police and troopers. This transfer sparked outrage that culminated within the second Intifada, a Palestinian rebellion in opposition to Israeli occupation that lasted 5 years.
Tens of 1000’s of Muslims pray close to the Dome of the Rock on the grounds of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on April 17, 2023, 27 Ramadan, believed to be Laylat al-Qadr, one of many holiest nights of the month (Hazem Bader/AFP)
Within the shadow of Israel’s battle on Gaza, Matar believes an identical transfer by the Israelis might spark a brand new chapter of widespread unrest.
“Al-Aqsa could possibly be a focus for a brand new battle,” he advised Al Jazeera.
Beneath the shadow of battle
Palestinian residents of Israel and people within the occupied territories say the continued bloodshed in Gaza hangs over everybody like a darkish cloud.
US President Joe Biden has tried to dealer a ceasefire in Gaza to carry again Israeli prisoners nonetheless held by Hamas and calm tensions throughout Ramadan. However with the prospects for a ceasefire trying slim, Rony believes the battle will have an effect on the state of affairs between Palestinians and Israelis in Jerusalem.
He stated many Palestinians are “dying inside” from watching scenes of the devastating battle on tv and social media. He additionally fears that Israeli officers or ministers will exploit their anger by harassing Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
“Most of us really feel like we’re in a home jail. (We really feel) that we now have to remain at dwelling to keep away from being overwhelmed or harassed (throughout Ramadan),” he advised Al Jazeera.
Matar agrees, including that Gaza and Al-Aqsa have a symbiotic relationship. He recalled the temporary 11-day battle between Hamas and Israel in 2021, which was sparked by Israel attacking worshipers in Al-Aqsa and expelling Palestinians from Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Related unrest might happen this Ramadan.
“If one a part of Palestine suffers, then each a part of Palestine suffers,” Matar advised Al Jazeera.
Palestinians concern Israeli violence in Jerusalem throughout Ramadan | Israeli Struggle on Gaza Information
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