Navigating the old city of Jerusalem is usually a challenge. The narrow, labyrinthine streets are typically crowded with pilgrims and tourists mingling with local Jews, Arabs and Christians. Since the events of 7 October, however, the avenues where Jesus may have once walked are deserted.
Weaving through the main thoroughfare in the Christian quarter, a typical route taken by pilgrims to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, most of the shop shutters are down.
The tourism industry in Israel came to a near standstill after the shocking attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023. Independent flight monitors estimate that Ben Gurion Airport saw an 80 per cent cut in air traffic, as many countries issued travel warnings for Israel.
