Jerusalem streets quiet amid Middle East tensions

Streets in downtown Jerusalem became notably calm on the third day of the U.S.-Israel joint strikes against Iran, with few pedestrians navigating the usually bustling streets.

Footage captured by a China Media Group (CMG) correspondent on the ground showed that most shops were closed, a stark contrast to normal days on Jaffa Street, a vital commercial thoroughfare in Jerusalem.

The street was teeming with shoppers, trams and vendors, but now it is quiet, with only sporadic foot traffic and a noticeable increase in police patrols and emergency personnel.

The heightened security presence, including numerous police vehicles and rescue teams from Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service, reflects ongoing tensions. Recent reports of missile intercepts, believed to be launched by Iran, have prompted increased alertness and precautionary measures.

Despite the tense atmosphere, supermarkets maintained stock levels similar to usual while shoppers were making additional purchases amid uncertainty.

Public transportation continues to operate normally, while traffic on the usually congested major roads has decreased sharply.

Early Tuesday morning, air raid sirens were sounded across northern, central, and southern Israel.

The Israeli military confirmed it detected missile launches from Iran and was actively intercepting the projectiles.

The Magen David Adom said no casualties or injuries from the attacks were reported on Tuesday.

Jerusalem streets quiet amid Middle East tensions

Jerusalem streets quiet amid Middle East tensions

Jerusalem streets quiet amid Middle East tensions

Jerusalem streets quiet amid Middle East tensions

The European Union and the United Nations issued a joint report on Monday saying that human development across Gaza has been set back by a staggering 77 years, with 71.4 billion U.S. dollars needed over the next decade for its recovery and reconstruction.

According to the Final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, jointly conducted by the EU and UN with the World Bank, 26.3 billion U.S. dollars will be needed in the first 18 months to restore essential services, rebuild critical infrastructure and support economic recovery.

Physical infrastructure damages are estimated at 35.2 billion U.S. dollars, with economic and social losses amounting to 22.7 billion U.S. dollars from the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7, 2023.

The report finds that all sectors have been devastated, including housing, health, education, commerce and agriculture.

In Gaza, at least 371,888 housing units have been destroyed or damaged, more than 50 percent of hospitals are non-functional, and nearly all schools have been destroyed or damaged. The economy has contracted by 84 percent.

The impact on the lives of Gazans is just as devastating: more than 60 percent of the population have lost their homes and 1.9 million people displaced, often multiple times. Women, children, persons with disabilities, and those with pre-existing vulnerabilities bear the greatest burden.

Over two years of conflict has resulted in more than 71,000 Palestinian fatalities and over 171,000 injured, according to local authorities, with many still missing under the rubble.

Gaza's reconstruction in next decade needs 71.4 billion US dollars: report