Right-wing extremist groups will march in the walled Old City of East Jerusalem and its surroundings, waving flags in a ceremony that risks inflaming tensions with Palestinians in the disputed city and igniting violence once more. Palestinian factions, which have described the march as a provocation, called for a "Day of Rage" in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) warned of a resurgence of hostilities if the march proceeds.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh tweeted, "We warn of the serious repercussions that may result from the intention of the occupying forces to allow extremist Israeli settlers to proceed with the flag march in occupied Jerusalem tomorrow." The original course of the march was altered at the last minute on May 10 after rising tensions in Jerusalem led Hamas to fire rockets towards the holy city, with Israel responding with airstrikes on Gaza.
Israeli right-wing groups have accused their government of yielding to Hamas and set another date for the march after a truce held. Tuesday's march, scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM local time (15:30 GMT), poses an immediate challenge to the new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who took office on Sunday, ending Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year rule, a record.
The Minister of Internal Security in Bennett's government approved the march on Monday. Changing the route or canceling it would expose the Israeli government to accusations from Netanyahu, who has joined the opposition, and his right-wing allies of allowing Hamas to veto events in Jerusalem. Right-wing lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir tweeted, "It is time for Israel to threaten Hamas, not for Hamas to threaten Israel."
The official route of the march has not been announced yet. Israeli media reported that police would allow participants to gather outside the Damascus Gate in the walled city but would not permit them to cross into the Palestinian-populated Islamic Quarter. Tensions are expected to be high regardless of any route change. There are plans for Palestinian protests at 6 PM (15:00 GMT) across the Gaza Strip, with Hamas and the Fatah movement, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling on Palestinians to flood into the Old City to confront the march.
The Israeli military is reportedly preparing for a possible escalation in Gaza due to the march, according to Israeli media. The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem has prohibited its staff and their
