Jerusalem has entered the new year under an intensifying regime of pressure, with daily life increasingly shaped by restrictions, raids and punitive measures. From the first days of January, the city has witnessed a steady accumulation of actions that have narrowed movement, disrupted worship and undermined any sense of security for its Palestinian residents, reflecting a broader pattern linked to the ongoing genocidal war across the occupied territory.

A wide range of practices has defined this period. Residents have faced repeated closures through newly installed military checkpoints, while access to neighbourhoods and main roads has been arbitrarily curtailed. Sacred spaces have not been spared, with dozens of incidents targeting holy sites, reinforcing the perception that even places of worship are no longer protected. Alongside these measures, banishment orders have been issued, forcibly separating individuals from their city and social environment.

Arrests and home raids have continued at a relentless pace. Dozens of Jerusalemites have been taken as prisoners, often following night-time incursions into family homes. These operations have coincided with settlement-related steps and attacks by settlers, deepening tensions and contributing to injuries among civilians. Property has also been a primary target, with demolitions and destruction leaving families displaced and entire communities destabilised.

Taken together, these developments illustrate a systematic reality rather than isolated incidents. The cumulative impact of shootings, injuries, incursions and demolitions has reshaped everyday existence in Jerusalem, embedding fear and uncertainty into routine life. For many residents, the city has become another front in a wider genocidal war, where administrative orders, force and settlement expansion operate in tandem.