Thursday, May 21Thursday, May 21Jerusalem Day March and Israeli-Palestinian Tensions in Jerusalem
The annual Jerusalem Day march, marking Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967, took place on Thursday, escalating tensions between Israeli nationalists and Palestinian residents. Thousands of Israeli demonstrators, including far-right groups, marched through the Old City’s Muslim Quarter, chanting inflammatory slogans such as *"Death to Arabs,"* *"May your villages burn,"* and *"Gaza is a graveyard."* Palestinian residents reportedly barricaded themselves indoors to avoid confrontations, while clashes erupted between marchers and Palestinians, with both sides throwing objects before Israeli police intervened .
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right figure, participated in the march and later entered the [al-Aqsa Mosque compound—Islam’s](en.wikipedia.org) third-holiest site—under heavy police protection, further provoking Palestinian outrage. Ben-Gvir’s actions, including unfurling an Israeli flag at the site, were widely condemned as a deliberate provocation, given the compound’s sensitive status under a long-standing *status quo* agreement . The UN and international community do not recognize Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem, which remains a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
Police Response and Broader Context Israeli police were deployed to separate nationalist marchers from Palestinian residents, though reports indicated limited intervention in preventing hate speech or violence. The march has grown increasingly extreme in recent years, with this year’s event drawing criticism for its overtly racist and violent rhetoric . The escalation coincides with global commemorations of Nakba Day, marking the 1948 displacement of Palestinians, which has further heightened tensions .
> Background: **Israel faces backlash over Jerusalem march violence and detention abuse allegations.** — *1 hours ago*
Israelis chant threats, anti-Palestinian slogans at Jerusalem Day march Israeli nationalists swept through the narrow streets of Jerusalems Old City on Thursday, chanting Death to Arabs during the annual Jerusalem Day march, while many Palestinian residents remained barricaded indoors. Every year, tens of thousands of Israelis celebrate what Israeli authorities call the reunification of Jerusalem following Israels annexation of east Jerusalem in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The annexation of east Jerusalem, home to a predominantly Palestinian population, is not recognised by the United Nations, which considers it illegal under international law.
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