No Jerusalem permits for Palestinians in Gaza this Ramadan, says Israel military

Israeli occupation authorities announced yesterday that there would be no travel permits for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during Ramadan this year.

According to the Times of Israel, the Israeli military said it had approved “a series of civilian measures for the holiday period” in the occupied West Bank, a reference to a loosening of routine movement restrictions. Such a step typically takes place every Ramadan.

The Times of Israel added that “the measures will allow Palestinians in the West Bank to see family members in Israel”, to “travel abroad from Ben Gurion Airport”, and to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque.

READ: Denied entry, Palestinians have iftar at Hebron checkpoint

However, the Israeli news site continued, “these will not apply to Palestinians who live in the Gaza Strip” despite the fact that “in previous years, residents of the coastal enclave were given some special dispensations for Ramadan — normally in the form of permits to visit Jerusalem”.

The Israeli occupation authorities decided not to grant these permits following a “situational assessment”, an Israeli military spokesperson said according to the Times of Israel.