In Jerusalem, the start of Ramadan marked by Palestinian concern for Gaza
The war in Gaza has entered its sixth month.
The Palestinians are in mourning and despite this, they are preparing to celebrate Ramadan.
In Jerusalem, there are no special festivities for the holy month this year, nor any decorations in the old city.
And this, while Israeli strikes still hit the south of the Gaza Strip hard.
People pass in front of the Dome of the Rock, in the grounds of the Al-Aqsa mosque, before the start of Ramadan, in the Old City of Jerusalem, March 10, 2024. AFP - AHMAD GHARABLI
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With our correspondents and special envoys in Jerusalem,
More than sixty Israeli air raids in less than 24 hours, mainly in the center and south of the Gaza Strip, with a very heavy toll of ten victims.
Hamas speaks of 85 dead.
The strikes hit residential areas, particularly in the Khan Younes sector.
According to the Gaza Strip Ministry of Health, shells fell from the tents of Gazans refugees in the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, killing at least 13 people.
Yesterday my daughter asked me for something that we can no longer afford.
She asked me if I could buy her some chicken.
And unfortunately, it’s overpriced!
01:27
The suffering of Gaza residents on the eve of Ramadan
Alice Froussard
For their part, the Israeli military claims to have eliminated around thirty Hamas terrorists.
And also report a targeted attack in the el-Hamad neighborhood carried out by a combat helicopter on Hamas infrastructure used in the October 7 attack, reports our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Michel Paul
.
This renewed activity comes just before the start of Ramadan and also while American President Joe Biden has clearly stated that carrying out a ground advance on Rafah where there are nearly a million and a half Gazan refugees is, from Washington's point of view, unthinkable.
State of highest alert
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem announced the start of Ramadan on Monday.
This month of Ramadan is causing concern in Israel.
The Mossad, the Israeli secret service, claims that Hamas wants to exploit it to inflame the entire region.
The state of alert is at the highest level, particularly around the Old City in Jerusalem, notably with the use of surveillance by drones and cameras using artificial intelligence.
Special forces on motorcycles circulate in the alleys.
And several thousand police officers came to reinforce those who normally patrol Jerusalem.
The focus is on controlling social media.
Earlier in the day, police announced they had arrested 20 residents of eastern Jerusalem on charges of inciting and supporting terrorism.
A police spokesperson said this was to prevent the spread of rumors and false information during this particularly sensitive period.
Restrictions lifted on the mosque esplanade
Since October 7 and the Hamas attack, the majority of Palestinians have been deprived of their main place of worship in Jerusalem: the mosque esplanade.
The Israeli government has announced that
it is lifting restrictions on access
to the third holiest site in Islam, which it had put in place since the start of the war, recalls our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
.
But as Ramadan begins, the mosque esplanade is empty.
Hadj Mohamed performs his ablutions.
He prepares for prayer.
“
It’s sad
,” said the old man.
“
I’m 77 years old.
But right now, young people can't come in here.
Access depends on the mood of the Israeli police officers, stationed at the mosque gates.
Some are nice, but others are always defiant and provocative.
They respect neither the young nor the old.
At my age, sometimes they say to me: “
Get out of here!
“May God bring us peace
.”
On the esplanade, men over 60, and women over 50.
“
These are the age limits imposed by Israel to be authorized to enter,
” explains Samir, an employee of the Waqf, the administration of Muslim holy sites.
“
If I didn't work at the Waqf, I couldn't be here, I'm not old enough.
Right now, on Fridays, there are restrictions even entering the Old City of Jerusalem.
It's painful, but what do you want?
It is the occupying forces that control the city gates
.”
Muslim worshipers pray next to the Dome of the Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, March 10, 2024. AP - Mahmoud Illean
Officially, the mosque esplanade is under Jordanian sovereignty.
At the Waqf administration, Mohamed Al Ash-hab, an official, calls for respect for freedom of worship.
“
Our position is clear: the al-Aqsa mosque is a Muslim place of prayer.
During Ramadan as during the rest of the year, the place must remain open to all Muslims who have the right to practice their religion there in complete freedom.
We heard that [the Israelis] were going to lift access restrictions.
But we are not in contact with them, we do not know more.
»
On Fridays, the mosque esplanade can accommodate up to 300,000 worshipers.
There have been barely 5,000 since October 7, due to Israeli restrictions.
Not in the mood for celebrations
In the Old City of Jerusalem, Palestinians go shopping.
The holy month of fasting for Muslims should be a celebration, but this year, the atmosphere is not there, reports our special correspondent,
Murielle Paradon
.
In al-Wad Street, there are no light garlands or music as usual.
Abu Mohamed is a trader, he explains.
“
Everyone here agreed not to celebrate this Ramadan in a festive way.
For example, we don't play music, out of solidarity with the population in Gaza.
They are starving there
,” he said.
Issa Salem, a sixty-year-old living in the old city, agrees: “
The Gazans have no food, they have no flour, no bread.
So, of course, during Ramadan, it's difficult for us to eat normally after the fasting break, seeing the situation in Gaza
.
»
If there is not the usual crowd for Ramadan in the old town, it is also for economic reasons.
Tarek Taha, a fruit and vegetable seller, complains about the lack of customers: “
It's because of the war.
The Palestinians have no money.
Those who worked for the Israelis are afraid to go there.
Those who work in the old town have seen their income drop by half.
All of this impacts us
.
»
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