Thousands of far-right Israelis poured into East Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday for the annual Flag March, chanting slogans such as "Death to Arabs" and "May your village burn." The rally, which celebrates Israel's capture of the city in 1967, saw participants attack Palestinian residents and property, escalating tensions in the already volatile area.
Witnesses reported that marchers threw stones and bottles at Palestinian homes and shops, while some physically assaulted bystanders. Palestinian medics said they treated at least 22 people for injuries, including a 12-year-old boy who was struck in the head by a stone.
The march, which began at the Damascus Gate and wound through the Muslim Quarter, was heavily policed but officers appeared to stand by as violence unfolded. Israeli authorities had approved the route despite warnings from Palestinian leaders and human rights groups that it would provoke unrest.
"This is not a celebration; it's an occupation festival that humiliates us in our own city," said Ahmed al-Sayyad, a 45-year-old Palestinian merchant who had to close his shop early as the crowd approached.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, defended the march, calling it a "legitimate expression of Israeli sovereignty over a united Jerusalem." But critics, including some Israeli lawmakers, condemned the government's authorization of the event, particularly during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
"The Flag March has become a vehicle for incitement and violence," tweeted opposition leader Yair Lapid. "Instead of uniting the city, it tears it apart."
The march came amid a broader surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence that has claimed the lives of dozens of Palestinians and several Israelis in recent months. International mediators have called for calm, but repeated ceasefire efforts have failed to stop the bloodshed.