Palestinians and journalists confronted by violent aggression by Israeli nationalists
Israeli nationalists participating in a controversial flag march clashed with Palestinians and journalists in East Jerusalem. The procession, which commemorates Israel's 1967 occupation of the area, led to altercations as demonstrators chanted nationalist slogans and assaulted Palestinians, journalists, and Arab shops.
The march, initially peaceful, escalated as Israeli settlers from the occupied West Bank harassed Palestinian shop owners and left-wing activists. Among the nationalist slogans, chants of "Death to the Arabs" were heard. Israeli authorities did not intervene, citing the age of the participants as a factor for not making any arrests.
Thousands of Israelis took part in the event, waving blue-and-white Israeli flags through the predominantly Arab Old City, where many Palestinian businesses were closed out of fear of violence. Palestinians view the march as a provocative celebration of Israeli occupation, highlighting the ongoing disputes over the city's status.
In a separate incident, Far-Right Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a hotly contested site sacred to both Jews and Muslims. His visit was criticized by the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, who deemed it provocative. The complex, managed by an Islamic foundation from Jordan according to a decades-old agreement, is off-limits to Jewish prayer.
The annual Flag March, also known as the Jerusalem Day Parade, holds significant historical and political implications for both Israelis and Palestinians. The event reflects the deep-rooted divisions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is often the catalyst for escalating tensions and violence in East Jerusalem.
The European Union has expressed concern over the annual Flag March in Jerusalem, as the event, known for its political significance, recently escalated into clashes and sparked general-news headlines of violence and crime-and-justice incidents. The EU has criticized the lack of intervention by Israeli authorities in the altercations and the subsequent use of nationalist slogans that promote hatred against Palestinians and Arab shop owners.
In response, the European Union has called for a more peaceful resolution to the ongoing disputes over the city's status, emphasizing the need for justice and an end to provocative actions that could further exacerbate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
