Islamic authorities say more than 1,100 Israelis encroached on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during a provocative annual parade.
Thousands of Israelis took part in a march through occupied East Jerusalem, some attacking Palestinians and shouting racist slogans, as part of an annual protest marking Israel’s occupation of the city.
Footage shared by local journalists on Wednesday showed young men and teenagers chanting “Death to the Arabs” and “Let your village burn” during the so-called “Flag March.”
The parade took place amid heightened tensions as Israel continues its war on Gaza, which has killed more than 36,500 people, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian authorities.
Protesters danced and waved Israeli flags throughout the city.
The Jerusalem Waqf, the Islamic authority that oversees the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, said more than 1,100 Israelis encroached on the site, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif ( the noble sanctuary) and of the Jews under the name of the Temple Mount.
The AFP news agency published photos of Israeli protesters attacking a Palestinian journalist in the Old City. Several Israeli media outlets reported that Haaretz journalist Nir Hasson was also attacked.
Speaking from the Jordanian capital Amman, Tel Aviv Tribune’s Imran Khan said this year’s march appears to be more violent than in previous years.
“Almost as soon as the ultranationalists arrived in occupied East Jerusalem, they began attacking Palestinians. Young children were attacking older Palestinians – we saw photos of it,” Khan said.
“They were attacking stores; they were running to the stores. The Israeli police have simply lost control. In fact, they asked the Palestinians to just close their stores because they couldn’t control these people.”
According to Israeli media, Israel deployed 3,000 police officers during the march and urged protesters to “avoid any physical or verbal violence.”
AFP footage showed protesters holding signs reprimanding the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ highest court, which ordered Israel to end its attack on Rafah.
“The ICJ is corrupt and works with Hamas,” one sign read.
Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attended the march and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “be strong” in an implicit criticism of a proposed truce deal to put end to the war in Gaza.
“The Damascus Gate is ours. The Temple Mount is ours. And God willing, complete victory is ours,” Ben-Gvir said, according to the Times of Israel, referring to the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque – Islam’s third holiest site.
Israel captured East Jerusalem during the 1967 war, then annexed it in 1980, in a move not recognized by the international community.
Al-Haram al-Sharif remained under the management of the Jordan-designated Waqf and only Muslims are allowed to pray within the compound.
However, Israeli security forces often allow Israelis to attack the site. In recent years, Israeli forces have also attacked worshipers inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Second Intifada, the Palestinian uprising that saw years of violent protests and attacks, began in 2000 after Israeli politician Ariel Sharon visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Hamas also cited Israeli violations in Al-Aqsa as one of the main reasons for its “Al-Aqsa Floods” attack on Israel on October 7, when Hamas fighters carried out an attack that killed at least 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and seized around 250 other prisoners.
On Wednesday, Hamas denounced the Israeli parade in Jerusalem, calling it a “blatant aggression” against Arabs and Muslims.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the parade “reaffirms that Jerusalem is at the heart of the conflict.”
“Our people will not rest until the occupation ends and an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established,” he said in a statement.
