Religious Observances and Challenges Amidst Ongoing Conflict

Religious Observances Amidst Conflict

This year, the observance of major holidays has been profoundly affected for three major religions in the region. For Palestinians residing in the West Bank, stringent restrictions have severely limited their access to sacred sites. Meanwhile, for Israeli Jews, the ongoing war in Gaza has created a deep rift within their society, with increasing tensions evident among the populace. The celebrations of Passover, typically a time of joy, were overshadowed by somber reflections on the days that loved ones have been held captive. Palestinian Christian festivals, once bustling with pilgrims from around the globe, now exist as mere shadows of their former vibrancy. For Palestinian Muslims, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has cast a pall over even the simplest acts of remembrance.

How Rituals of Faith Became Another Casualty of War

Photographs by Sergey Ponomarev
Written by Erika Solomon
September 16, 2024

Since the harrowing attacks on October 7 and the subsequent outbreak of war in Gaza, no aspect of life in the region has remained untouched, particularly the three great religions with deep historical roots in this land. While Israeli Jews grapple with how to celebrate their holidays and find common ground amidst growing divisions, Palestinian Muslims and Christians face immense challenges in reaching their holy sites.

This year, Israel has implemented some of the most stringent restrictions on Ramadan prayers held at Al Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam. Al Aqsa, situated atop an ancient plateau in Jerusalem, holds immense significance for both Jews and Muslims and has long been a focal point of contention.

For decades, the Israeli government has prohibited Jews from praying on the grounds to avoid exacerbating tensions, and this policy remains officially in place. However, as Israel has tightened its grip on the site, right-wing politicians and settler groups have increasingly entered the area to pray, an action widely perceived as provocative by Palestinian Muslims.

• Israeli security officers monitoring a group of Palestinians praying outside Al Aqsa Mosque in April.
• Outside a checkpoint in Ramallah, an artwork depicting the Dome of the Rock in the Aqsa Mosque compound decorates a wall adjacent to a blocked road.