Jerusalem expected to see ‘disguised calm’ after Gaza ceasefire

Despite the ceasefire announcement, Palestinians in the occupied territories remain sceptical that the calm would spill over into Jerusalem, particularly with the Sheikh Jarrah residents still at risk of imminent eviction. 

Hamza Qattina, a lawyer from Jerusalem, said in an interview with Middle East Eye that the Gaza truce will bring about a “disguised and temporary calm” in Jerusalem. 

“This mask will disappear shortly after the end of the war and the occupation will return to its violations."

He explained that in Sheikh Jarrah the court decisions to evict some of its Palestinian residents have not been annulled. 

“Instead, occupation forces have set up barricades around it and besieged its people even more. They are trying to expel the families making the least noise possible,” he added.

Qattina predicts that Israel will de-escalate the tensions in Jerusalem for a few weeks, “so that everyone thinks they are not the ones causing tensions,” but then will restart the violations.

“There is no guarantee that prevents the occupation or deters it to stop its violations in Jerusalem,” he said.

Meanwhule, Hatem Abdel-Qader, member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council and Council of Islamic Endowments, commenting on the ceasefire announcement, said that “Jerusalem will remain the compass and heart of events regardless of whether the aggression on the Gaza Strip ends or continues.”

He explained that the recent developments in Gaza have created a new awareness regarding the Palestinian struggle generally, and Jerusalem’s in particular.

“The battle in Jerusalem is still ongoing and will continue until Israel ends the occupation. For the occupation, Jerusalem is at the forefront of its attack on Palestinian national aspiration and it’s undergoing a fierce open war against all components of the city,” he told MEE.

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