Israeli police clashed with Palestinians holed up inside Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday while hundreds of Jews visited the holy site ahead of a controversial march planned by Jewish nationalists in the heart of the Old City. The annual march in Jerusalem marks Israel's occupation of the Old City during the 1967 war and attracts thousands of participants in its narrow, stone streets.
Palestinian factions warned that the flag march in the Islamic Quarter of the Old City could reignite the decades-long conflict with Israelis amid rising tensions in the city. Hours before the scheduled start of the march, police prevented some Palestinians from exiting Al-Aqsa Mosque as Jewish visitors arrived at the compound. Palestinians threw stones and launched fireworks at the police, who responded with stun grenades. Among the Jewish visitors were about ten young men dressed in religious attire as they laughed, sang, and applauded in the face of the protesters. Other Jews were later seen waving flags and chanting the Israeli anthem.
In this context, the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement (Hamas) condemned the videos posted online that showed Jews praying at the site, in violation of a long-standing ban. Basem Naeem, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters, “The Israeli government bears full responsibility for all these irresponsible policies and their subsequent consequences.”
What is Bennett's Position?
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has so far rejected any changes despite calls from some of his coalition allies to reconsider the march. He stated, “Waving the Israeli flag in Israel's capital is perfectly acceptable... I ask participants to celebrate in a responsible and dignified manner.” Palestinians consider Sunday’s march a display of Israeli power and part of a broader campaign to reinforce the Jewish presence throughout the city.
