Palestinians prepared for a holy month free of COVID-19 prohibitions than at the peak of the pandemic, with colorful lanterns and ornate Ramadan decorations flooding the streets of Jerusalem on Monday.

The atmosphere in the Old City was much more positive ahead of Ramadan's scheduled to start on Tuesday than it was last year, when prayers at the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, were stopped.

While there were no foreign visitors in Jerusalem, there were far more people in the Old City, where shops recorded roaring trade.

"The situation has been difficult for retailers and the general public as a result of the coronavirus. The situation has improved since coronavirus vaccination was introduced "Mohammad Abu Sbeih, a shopper, shared his views.

In its rapid vaccination rollout, Israel has included Palestinians in East Jerusalem. After capturing the city along with the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, it annexed the eastern half of the city.

It is uncertain if Palestinians from the controlled West Bank as in past years would be able to visit Al-Aqsa during Ramadan.

The situation could be aggravated by the Palestinian authorities' much slower vaccination rate than Israel, which has endured international requirements to ensure that Palestinians are vaccinated.

In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority announced that more shops would be allowed to open at night and Ramadan night prayers will be held in mosques, except on Friday, when they would be held outside. Nevertheless, a COVID overnight curfew was put on activities between towns, villages, and refugee camps.

It also prohibited restaurants from keeping ifthars (sunset fasting) and shops providing sweet pastries from opening their doors to customers, stating that they could only deliver goods. Despite a recent threefold spike in daily infections, shoppers flooded Gaza's markets. The Gaza health authorities were forced to close schools, enforce night curfews, and prohibit large crowds as a result, but they avoided a complete lockdown.