As the blessed month of Ramadan approaches, the Israeli occupation is expressing concern that Palestinian armed operations may resume, particularly as this marks the first Ramadan following the end of the war on Gaza. Calls have also emerged within Israeli circles to address what they describe as the deeper roots of the conflict, rather than relying solely on formal security measures during the holy month.
Israeli propaganda expert Gadi Ezra stated that “Ramadan is arriving for the first time just days after the war on Gaza has ended. In the years preceding the war, this month was a sensitive period of the year, resembling a pressure cooker in the Middle East. It became fertile ground for incitement to armed resistance, fuelled by Palestinian organisations that prepared for it. For many years, the Israeli occupation would prepare by reinforcing the army and police, deploying massive numbers of soldiers in an attempt to thwart and contain any security escalation.”
Ezra added in an article published by Yedioth Ahronoth, translated by Arabi21, that “the upcoming Ramadan appears somewhat different. It is the first Ramadan after the war has ended. Preparations are already underway, intelligence warnings are flowing, incitement has not stopped, nor have attempts to carry out armed attacks. The army is awaiting its arrival with concern and is not standing idle, even as countries in the region are more preoccupied than ever with shaping the reality that will emerge the day after the war in Gaza.”
He explained that “condemnations regarding changes to the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque are being heard, but not at the same level as in the past. The media is less preoccupied with the issue. The level of media noise has become extremely high, and reports of unrest in the Middle East have become routine. What once sparked debate now competes with the possibility of a regional war, the dispatch of Indonesian forces to Gaza, the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Strip, and the release of protocols that led to the seventh of October attack.”
The writer noted that “the imminent arrival of Ramadan for Palestinians coincides with an overcrowded political agenda. Here lies a particular opportunity. The day after, which is already our present, is not limited to shaping geographic or political arrangements. It also concerns Israel’s very existence, how we and our enemies perceive one another, the nature of the calendar throughout the year, how we behave during it, and the region’s boundaries. If there is a period deserving conceptual reformulation, Ramadan is a strong candidate for that title.”
Ezra further stated that “the four weeks of Ramadan, during which many Palestinians believe armed confrontations are prevalent due to the cultural normalisation of resistance, raise Israeli fears that such violence may be regarded as more legitimate, especially after the war on Gaza. Therefore, alongside combating armed operations during Ramadan, Israel must also work to change the prevailing perception of the month. It must address the roots of the problem, not only its symptoms, and identify the cultural factors that fuel Palestinian violence throughout the year.”
He added that “the narratives conveyed to millions of Palestinians, portraying Ramadan as an appropriate time to escalate resistance, are widespread in schoolbooks, on the internet, and in the media. These narratives must therefore be monitored, confronted wherever possible, and neutralised when necessary. Although this is a difficult task, it is not impossible. To achieve this, changing the perception of Ramadan must become a political objective in itself. The occupation cannot suffice with annually restraining violence during Ramadan. It must also engage in public awareness regarding red lines during the month.”
He concluded by saying that “all of this requires a perspective that goes beyond the coming Ramadan, a systematic long term policy, and precise annual monitoring. However, the first Ramadan after the war has the capacity to break this chain and impose a new tone. That will only be achieved if this objective is clearly defined.”
