Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in London.
JERUSALEM — The sun was shining over the streets of Jerusalem's Old City on Monday as the first full day of Ramadan began — but with no cease-fire in sight, the war in Gaza cast a heavy shadow over the start of the holy month, with fears of tensions rising around the revered Al-Aqsa mosque. Israeli border police patrolled the streets of the Old City's Muslim quarter — an area that is usually bustling with people and adorned with lights, lanterns and decorations during Ramadan.
In the weeks leading up to Ramadan, the Israeli government had been unclear about whether it would look to impose new limits on access to the Al-Aqsa compound during the holy month. But last Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said no new restrictions would be enforced, despite calls from far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for severe restrictions.
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