2023-05-18 13:53:58
JERUSALEM: Palestinians are rallying against Friday’s flag march, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of Israeli nationalists. Security has been stepped up in the Occupied Palestinian Territories amid an already tense situation.
Orthodox Jews and immigrants prepare for a Flag Day march in East Jerusalem. Flag-carrying people began arriving near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound early Thursday to take part in a parade celebrating the 1967 capture of East Jerusalem and the subsequent occupation.
A spokesman for Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a warning against organizing a provocative flag march. Hamas has also called on people to mobilize against it. Meanwhile, more than 2,000 policemen have been deployed for security.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities barred Palestinian worshipers under the age of 50 from performing morning prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, adding to the problem.
The far-right march comes shortly after a ceasefire agreement was reached between the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group and Israel following four days of Israeli bombardment that killed 33 Palestinians.
Flag marches in previous years were filled with anti-Arab racist slogans and violence against Palestinians. In 2021, an 11-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip killed more than 260 Palestinians.
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