"The Temple Mount is in our hands." – National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, raising an Israeli flag at the Al-Aqsa compound.
March Commemorates 1967 Capture of East Jerusalem
On Thursday, tens of thousands of Israelis, including ultranationalist groups, participated in the annual Jerusalem Day march through Jerusalem's Old City. The event commemorates Israel's capture of East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War.
The United Nations considers Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem illegal under international law. Jerusalem remains a central point of conflict, with Israel claiming the city as its undivided capital and Palestinians seeking East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
Details of the March
Large crowds gathered near Damascus Gate and later marched to the Western Wall. The area was largely devoid of Palestinian residents, many of whom had barricaded themselves inside their homes and closed their shops in anticipation of the event. Some Palestinian-owned businesses remained open under the protection of activists from Standing Together, an Israeli-Palestinian grassroots organization.
Incidents and Reported Behavior
Participants chanted slogans including "Death to Arabs," "May your villages burn," and "Palestinians will be erased." Some banners reportedly called for another Nakba (catastrophe) and referenced rebuilding the Third Temple on the Temple Mount, which is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.
Scuffles broke out when marchers encountered Palestinians in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, where chairs were thrown. Activists from Standing Together and Rabbis for Human Rights intervened to reduce violence. Marchers were also reported banging on closed shop shutters and engaging in intimidation.
Official Actions and Statements
Earlier in the day, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, raising an Israeli flag and stating, "The Temple Mount is in our hands."
Israeli police were present at the march. Some media reports indicated police took a harder stance against onlookers than against the nationalists. One officer was hoisted onto marchers' shoulders and waved an Israeli flag. Journalists covering the event reported facing hostility, including being shoved and blocked from filming.
Rula Daoud, co-director of Standing Together, said Israeli police failed to intervene to curb what she described as abuses, and noted that the march has become more violent annually.
Differing Perspectives on the Event
Participants expressed a variety of views. Atara Serwatien said Palestinians are "evil people" and expressed hope they would be harassed into leaving.
"Some behavior reminded me of Nazi Germany. We must preserve Jerusalem's diversity—Christians, Jews, and Muslims living together."
– Levi Sperber, resident of the Old City
In contrast, brothers Levi and Shalom Sperber, residents of the Old City, expressed concern about the rhetoric, with Levi comparing some behavior to Nazi Germany and emphasizing the importance of preserving Jerusalem's diversity of Christians, Jews, and Muslims living together.
Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavi said many in his community feared what was being done in the name of the Jewish faith and called for coexistence. Some participants were described as peaceful, while others were described as provocative and aggressive.