Ramadan begins without drama – or hope

Efforts for Ramadan to mark an end to hostilities were in vain, but fears that the holy month would be an instant powder keg in Jerusalem and Gaza have not materialised – so far.

In the lead-up to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, everyone talked about it as a deadline.

US President Joe Biden said Israel and Hamas were on the verge of a ceasefire deal. War Cabinet member Benny Gantz said a ground invasion of Rafah would begin in Ramadan if hostages were not released. Israeli right-wing extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bar Muslims from Al Aksa/Temple Mount to prevent “Hamas victory celebrations”. Analysts detected carrots and sticks which provided time-limited incentives for change by Ramadan. Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani warned it would be a “very, very dangerous time” in the region.

Ramadan began on Sunday night and, so far, none of these predictions has come to pass. There has been no ceasefire deal, no hostage release, and no ground invasion of Gaza. But there has also been no explosion of violence.

Even Netanyahu back-pedalled on his initial agreement with Ben-Gvir and decided Israel would not reduce the number of worshippers allowed to pray at Al-Aksa during Ramadan.  

The most striking aspect of Ramadan 2024 is the quiet. In Jerusalem, the usual bustle, coloured lights, lanterns and decorations are absent.