March 31, 2026 It is spring in Palestine, and Eid al-Fitr has just passed. It’s customary to buy new clothes for the feast, but with people desperately short of funds, this tradition was out of reach for most this year. It was hard to find signs of celebration, even the smallest manifestations of joy, anywhere. In Ramallah, where I live, the city was quiet and subdued. Distress and worry were visible on people’s faces.