Forgotten Jerusalem: The City Being Stolen Amid the Smoke of Israel’s War on Gaza and the West Bank

While the conflict in Gaza captures international headlines and diplomatic focus, Jerusalem quietly fades into the background—a city being stealthily stolen, eclipsed by distraction and neglect. Palestinians in Jerusalem endure harsh realities no less violent, yet their plight is often relegated to the periphery of broader Palestinian narratives.

Israeli authorities impose strict restrictions on the movement of Jerusalemites, particularly during Ramadan, severely hampering access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and turning acts of worship into daily ordeals filled with humiliation and obstruction. Are these restrictions genuinely motivated by security concerns, or do they possess deeper religious and political intentions? Why is Jerusalem consistently targeted, while settlers freely storm its squares?

Since its occupation in 1967, Israel has systematically pursued demographic changes in East Jerusalem by revoking residency rights, demolishing homes, and expanding settlements at the expense of Palestinian neighborhoods. Are these merely administrative and security measures, or integral components of a long-term strategic project aimed at erasing Palestinian identity in the city?

Economic Struggles in Jerusalem

The economic situation in Jerusalem is as dire as its political circumstances. Residents live under constant economic siege, evident in soaring unemployment rates and declining purchasing power. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, unemployment in East Jerusalem reached approximately 5.2% in 2024, compared to 4.4% in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by the ongoing war on Gaza and the West Bank, exacerbated the crisis, causing around 35,000 workers to lose their jobs in 2024. Additionally, nearly 450 commercial establishments closed, deepening economic deterioration and amplifying the residents’ suffering.

Jerusalem’s economy heavily relies on the services and tourism sectors, which constitute over 40% of the GDP, with the service sector employing 41% of workers. Nonetheless, Israeli authorities continue to obstruct Palestinian economic activities through exorbitant taxes and repeated closures of businesses.

The shortages in essential services such as water and electricity are not transient issues but deliberate policies designed to reduce Palestinian presence and weaken the residents’ resilience. Approximately 451,000 Palestinians, constituting 9.1% of Palestine’s population, reside in Jerusalem Governorate, facing severe shortages in essential services like health, education, and infrastructure, severely affecting their daily lives. The occupation uses these tactics to render Jerusalem unlivable, thus systematically depopulating the city of its Palestinian residents and altering its demographic character.

Trump’s Return Fuels Israeli Expansionism

The return of Donald Trump, who previously granted Israel unconditional support by recognizing Jerusalem as its capital and relocating the U.S. embassy there, signals reassurance to Israel’s far-right factions, especially in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which includes figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Trump’s continued alignment with staunch pro-Israeli advisors, such as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former ambassador David Friedman, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, and key Republican-Israeli relations architect Ron Dermer, ensures an unwaveringly biased American stance. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and architect of the “Deal of the Century,” although not formally in the current administration, continues to influence Republican policies favoring Israel. This deeply pro-Israel team foreshadows intensified pressures and quiet ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem under official American endorsement.

Weak Arab and Islamic Responses

Despite widespread popular support across the Arab and Islamic worlds, official governmental stances remain disappointingly weak, failing to meet the immense challenges faced by Palestinians in Jerusalem and Gaza. Practical measures, such as strong political statements, diplomatic actions like recalling ambassadors, or canceling normalization agreements, are notably absent.

This diplomatic weakness diminishes international pressure on Israel and undermines effective global actions to hold it accountable for ongoing violations. Although popular movements persist, reflecting genuine solidarity, the lack of effective Arab and Islamic coordination critically affects Jerusalem’s fate, leaving Palestinians increasingly vulnerable. Unity and enhanced cooperation among Arab and Islamic countries are urgently needed to exert effective international pressure to protect Jerusalem from comprehensive Judaization.

Jerusalem suffers not only from occupation wounds but also from global silence, hesitant allies, and a lack of decisive action. The city is being stolen in broad daylight, marginalized in nightly news cycles, and lost amid headlines of ongoing wars. Jerusalem deserves to reclaim its prominence—not merely as a religious symbol but as a vibrant political and popular cause, firmly present in Arab and global consciences.

Why is Jerusalem sidelined in media coverage and diplomatic agendas? Why is it left alone in its existential struggle? Elevating Jerusalem’s importance, both media-wise and diplomatically, is no longer a luxury or optional; it is a moral and national imperative against a silent occupation aiming not just at land but at memory, identity, and humanity itself.