Bab Hutta, a neighbourhood in Jerusalem’s Old City, lies right outside the gates to the most contested religious site in the world – the Temple Mount, or al-Haram al-Sharif.
Normally, the area is one of the most beautiful places in the city for Ramadan celebrations, covered in strings of festive lights and lanterns that take about 30 volunteers several weeks to set up. This year, there are no decorations, and the narrow passageways of the Muslim Quarter are quiet. About half of the usually lively souvenir shops and restaurants are closed; on some streets, there are more Israeli border police officers than civilians.
