In a provocative escalation yesterday, thousands of Israelis took part in the annual “March of Flags” that was launched on the streets of occupied Jerusalem on the anniversary of the occupation of the eastern part of the city, a year after the war in Gaza that erupted after last year’s Quds Day march.
This march, organized by the Israelis, angers the Palestinians, who seek to make East Jerusalem the capital of their future state.
Palestinian leader Nabil Abu Rudeina called the march sacrilegious.
A few hours before the start of the march, far-right Israeli MP Itamar Ben Gvir visited the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa mosque, where a large group of Jews was also seen.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Ambulance Society confirmed that the Israeli police “attacked our brigades in the Bab el-Amud area”, noting that their brigades removed “15 wounds (at least) in the vicinity and inside the Old City”, four of whom were transferred to the hospital.
In the square leading to Al-Bab, there was tension between Jewish and Palestinian militants.
And Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 war and later annexed it, which was not recognized by the international community. International envoy to the Middle East Tour Venesland urged Israelis and Palestinians to “show maximum restraint.” and said, “The message from the international community is clear: avoid a new escalation.”
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry condemned “allowing extremists and a member of the Israeli Knesset to storm the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque”, saying “it was done under the protection of the Israeli police”.
The official representative of the Ministry, Ambassador Haytham Abu Al-Ful, regarded this as “a violation of the existing historical and legal situation and international law.”
