There is a palpable stillness in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Streets that until recently were thronged with tourists and pilgrims are now largely empty, their cobbled alleyways deserted.

But this eerie silence reflects more than just the absence of tourism. Palestinian residents are staying indoors for fear of being shot or arrested. Meanwhile, armed Jewish settlers roam the hills surrounding the cities, asserting their presence with growing confidence.

As tension rises on the ground, political developments are adding fuel to the fire. On July 23, lawmakers in Israel’s Knesset passed a symbolic measure to “apply Israeli sovereignty” to the occupied West Bank.

Supporters said the move “will strengthen the state of Israel, its security, and prevent any questioning of the fundamental right of the Jewish people to peace and security in their homeland.” Two more votes are scheduled, but the effects are already being felt.

For Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the implications are not only political and economic, but deeply personal.

Bethlehem’s economy, like that of Jerusalem, depends heavily on tourism. With that income gone and prices rising, families are feeling the strain — made worse by the emotional toll of watching loved ones suffer in Gaza.

Many speak of a deep, gnawing guilt — being able to eat while friends and relatives in Gaza are starving.

That suffering casts a long shadow. A growing sense of powerlessness has taken hold — not only to protect one’s own family, but to help others. Prayers for a ceasefire are now laced with disbelief that the world has allowed the war to continue.

Even diplomatic gestures, like recent recognition of a Palestinian state by France, the UK, and Canada, offer little solace. For many, it feels like too little, too late.

Meanwhile, legal efforts have failed to stem the tide. On July 14, the International Court of Justice declared the Israeli occupation illegal. Days later, Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Israel Katz announced the construction of 22 new settlements.

Some 500,000 Israelis already live in settlements across the West Bank — home to around 3 million Palestinians.

Observers warn that this expansion signals more than just growth. It could block the last remaining path to a viable Palestinian state — a solution long considered the most realistic way to resolve the conflict.

In Jerusalem, the physical changes are already visible. Old properties are being torn down to make way for new roads, tunnels, and high-rises. The entire city and its surroundings are becoming a sea of concrete.

Outside the city, the pressure is even more personal.

One Palestinian man, currently in Amman, told Arab News that settlers are surrounding his village on the outskirts of Bethlehem. “They are circling and waiting to move in,” he said.

Soldiers have erected gates around the village and now control who can enter or leave. His parents say soldiers visit daily, asking about his whereabouts.

Two of his brothers and his 19-year-old nephew have already been arrested. The nephew remains in prison.