The ongoing regional war involving Israel and the United States on one side and Iran on the other has cast a wide shadow over daily life in Palestine, exacerbating the suffering of Palestinians who have already been enduring the repercussions of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip for more than two and a half years.
With many aspects of life already disrupted, the current escalation has further deepened the crisis.
The impact of the conflict has been multifaceted, affecting various sectors. Palestinian cities and villages have been exposed to Iranian missiles and falling debris, leading to an almost complete halt in key areas such as education and tourism, alongside a partial slowdown in economic activity.
On the first day of the outbreak of hostilities, the Palestinian government convened an emergency session chaired by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. The cabinet issued a series of decisions aimed at raising the readiness of institutions to respond to developments, most notably the formation of emergency committees across all the Palestinian governorates to ensure their continuous operation.
Mustafa reassured citizens about the availability of essential goods for up to six months, while stressing the importance of regulating markets and preventing price manipulation.
Amid increased demand at fuel stations, the cabinet also instructed the Petroleum Authority, in coordination with local governors, to organise the operation of fuel and petrol stations and prioritise supplies for vital sectors such as bakeries and hospitals.
Regarding the functioning of government institutions, it was decided that public employees should report to the nearest government office if they are unable to reach their usual workplace, particularly those working outside their areas of residence.
The Ministry of Health declared a state of maximum alert across hospitals and medical centres, while the civil defence, responsible for internal affairs, announced measures to restrict public gatherings and limit movement to essential needs.
People were urged to adhere to official instructions and to avoid rumours and panic buying.
The civil defence launched public-awareness campaigns through media outlets and social platforms, warning against the dangers near the sites of falling missile debris, whether from Iranian projectiles or Israeli Air Defence systems.
According to officials, at least 10 incidents of falling debris have been recorded within the Palestinian Territories, including a direct strike that destroyed a three-storey building in the northern West Bank city of Salfit.
Bethlehem has also seen falling debris due to its proximity to Jerusalem, which has been targeted by waves of Iranian missiles.
Imad Abu Bakr of the civil defence media department told Al-Ahram Weekly that numerous warnings have been issued since the beginning of the crisis to raise public awareness of the risks.
He noted that one of the most serious incidents occurred in the town of Biddya in the Salfit Governorate, where emergency crews have been operating around the clock.
He pointed to a key challenge facing rescue teams – crowds gathering at incident sites – which poses risks to civilians and delays response efforts.
Abu Bakr added that the guidance includes instructions on safe behaviour during missile strikes, urging residents to avoid rooftops, windows, open areas and meeting areas, as these hinder the work of emergency responders and bomb disposal units who secure the affected sites.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education has announced a shift from in-person learning to online education in schools and universities, in line with government measures to suspend physical attendance.
The decision followed incidents of missile debris falling near educational institutions, including a school in the town of Beit Sahour east of Bethlehem.
The ministry said the move aims to ensure the safety of students and staff while maintaining the continuity of education. It added that it is conducting ongoing assessments in coordination with other authorities and issuing regular updates on the situation.
In the early days of the war, panic spread among some Palestinians amid fears of shortages of essential goods, leading to a surge in purchasing and what officials described as economic anxiety.
The Ministry of the Economy responded by issuing statements confirming the availability of basic commodities and conducting market inspections to monitor prices and prevent exploitation.
Officials said strategic reserves are sufficient for six months and urged citizens to avoid panic buying, emphasising that supplies are adequate to meet market needs.
Field visits were led by Economy Minister Mohammad Al-Amour, accompanied by governors and the heads of chambers of commerce, in an effort to reassure the public.
Mohammad Abd Rabbo, director of the ministry of economy in Bethlehem, told the Weekly that the aim of these tours is to highlight the fact that excessive buying disrupts markets and creates unnecessary demand.
He also urged the public not to spread or believe rumours that could destabilise the market. He added that citizens are encouraged to report violations or complaints via the ministry’s hotline or online platform.
Since the outbreak of the war on 28 February, the Palestinian tourism sector has come to a complete halt, just as it had begun to recover after nearly two years of stagnation due to the war in Gaza.
Following a ceasefire agreement linked to US President Donald Trump’s peace initiative, hotels in Bethlehem and Jerusalem had resumed operations during the Christmas season at the end of 2025, raising hopes for a revival, particularly ahead of Easter.
However, those hopes were dashed with the onset of the Israeli-Iranian war.
Jiries Qumsiyeh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism, told the Weekly that tourism activity had ceased after 7 October 2023, due to the war and the suspension of air travel and that it had affected all sectors including hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and community-based tourism programmes.
He noted that tourism had begun to show signs of recovery by late 2025, supported by religious celebrations and increased domestic tourism from Palestinian citizens of Israel. This had led to the gradual reopening of hotels and businesses.
“Unfortunately, we then returned to a state of complete shutdown due to the outbreak of the Israeli-Iranian war,” he said, noting that airspace closures across the Middle East have led to the cancellation of bookings and the closure of more than 95 per cent of tourism facilities in Palestine.
Qumsiyeh added that the ministry is working with the private sector to mitigate the impact of the crisis, including by promoting domestic tourism and maintaining the international visibility of Palestine as a tourist destination.
He stressed that these efforts aim to ensure that Palestine remains present on the global tourism map and can quickly resume activity once the situation stabilises.
He also pointed to the Palestinian participation in an international tourism fair in Berlin as a sign of resilience and readiness to welcome pilgrims and visitors once travel resumes.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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