Amid Surge in Violence, Holy Sites Stay Shut in Jerusalem as Gaza Peace Efforts Stall

Coverage Overview

Over the past week, violence in the occupied Palestinian territories has claimed the lives of at least 18 people, according to reports from Al Jazeera. The majority of those killed were victims of Israeli air strikes in Gaza, while a combination of settler and army shootings killed three people in the West Bank. The same period saw the continuation of a month-long closure of Jerusalem's holy sites, a landmark Israeli law passed by the Knesset, and sluggish progress on the Gaza peace plan.

Key Developments

At least 18 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, with most deaths attributed to Israeli air strikes in Gaza. In the West Bank, settler attacks have escalated in recent weeks, with evidence suggesting the Israeli army has facilitated the violence, as reported by Al Jazeera. The outbreak of violence coincides with the ongoing joint US-Israeli military action against Iran.

Israeli authorities have also imposed restrictions on worship at Palestinian holy sites, ostensibly citing the threat of Iranian attacks. The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has been closed to Muslim worshippers since late February, and the state of emergency has been extended until mid-April. Palestinians in Jerusalem have been holding Friday prayers in the streets surrounding the Old City.

In a unprecedented step, Israeli forces on Sunday prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to perform Palm Sunday mass. The Latin patriarchate called it the first time in centuries that the head of the church had been barred from doing so. The move drew global backlash, including mild criticism from US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised 'a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days.'

Gaza Peace Plan and International Condemnation

In Gaza, Israeli air strikes and artillery fire have often targeted police forces, a campaign Israeli officials describe as aimed at degrading Hamas's control over the territory. However, aid workers dispute that characterization, noting the worsening humanitarian situation.

Efforts to secure a peace plan for Gaza have reached an impasse, with reports indicating that Hamas's refusal to discuss disarmament is the key sticking point. A senior US-appointed negotiator had been pushing for a framework to disarm Hamas, but no progress has been reported.

Meanwhile, funding pledges for Gaza's reconstruction have been frozen, a development linked to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. The freezing of funds compounds the already severe humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

The Knesset, Israel's parliament, passed a law last week that would impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of terrorism. The legislation drew swift international condemnation, with a coalition of eight countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkiye, calling it "discriminatory" and warning that it entrenches a system of apartheid. The European Union described the law as "a step backwards," and the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Volker Turk, warned that applying it to residents of the occupied territories "would constitute a war crime."

The law also triggered general strikes and protests across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with demonstrations also breaking out in Syria, including Damascus, Hama, and Deraa.

Perspectives and Reactions

Palestinians in the occupied territories and across the region view the recent escalation as a continuation of collective punishment and systemic discrimination. The closure of holy sites, the death penalty law, and the surge in settler attacks are perceived as part of a deliberate strategy to entrench control and expand settlements, a view echoed by the international condemnation and reports from on the ground.

Israeli authorities have framed the security measures, including the closure of holy sites and air strikes in Gaza, as necessary responses to national security threats and the ongoing conflict with Iran. Officials also describe the law imposing the death penalty as a deterrence measure against what they call terrorism.

The international community remains divided: while there is widespread criticism of Israel's actions, including the death penalty law and restrictions on worship, calls for stronger action have been muted, and individual nations like the United States have offered only soft criticism, as seen in the ambassador's comments.

As the week draws to a close, the situation remains volatile. The closure of Jerusalem's holy sites continues, the death penalty law awaits implementation, and the Gaza peace plan is stalled. Palestinians face an uncertain future, marked by violence and diplomatic impasse.