The Day of the First Ramadan Restrictions

On February 18, 2026, Palestinian editorial priority centered on the start of Ramadan under intense military and political pressure. Morning headlines focused on the prevention of the first Tarawih prayers at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the imposition of a 10,000-person cap on worshippers. Concurrently, outlets amplified reports on Israeli firms allegedly using connected cars for surveillance and Bezalel Smotrich’s public calls for the reoccupation of Gaza and the encouragement of Palestinian migration. By midday, reporting transitioned to the humanitarian cost of continued operations, specifically the killing of three Palestinians in Khan Yunis and the demolition of a residential building in Hebron that displaced 40 people. Media also began scrutinizing a leaked U.S. proposal to recruit local militias and private security firms for post-war Gaza governance. The evening coverage was dominated by reports of a potential U.S.-Israeli military strike against Iran, leading Prime Minister Netanyahu to reportedly postpone security meetings in anticipation of an escalation.