April 12 – The first day of Ramadan after a year where festivities were severely curtailed due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Israeli security forces install barricades to control anticipated crowds, including on the stairs outside Damascus Gate – a popular spot for Palestinians to gather during the holy month of Ramadan. The barricades are viewed by many locals as emblematic of Israel’s deepening administrative hold over East Jerusalem, and they become the focus of nightly Palestinian protests at the Damascus Gate; however, there are other pressing issues fueling the tensions as well, namely the status of East Jerusalem in upcoming Palestinian elections and a pending Supreme Court appeal against the expulsion of six Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem.

April 13 – Palestinians begin to gather for nightly protests at the Damascus Gate, producing frequent clashes with security forces over the next five days.