Jerusalem24– Over 70,000 settlers participated in the “flag march” in the old city of occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, according to Israeli police, to mark Jerusalem Day and 55 years since Israel occupied the eastern part of the city during the 1967 six-day war.
Over 1,600 settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque led by far-right leader Itamar Ben-Gvir several times during the day. Settlers also performed prayers in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque for the very first time, and under the protection of occupation forces.
More than 3,000 Israeli police officers were deployed throughout the city and over 60 Palestinians detained. Activists and members of the public documented a large number of assaults on persons being detained.
قوات الاحتلال تنكل بشاب مقدسي لحظة اعتقاله من شارع الواد في البلدة القديمة بالقدس المحتلة pic.twitter.com/GJRlyM5yvR
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) May 29, 2022
Roads adjacent to the Muslim quarter in the old city were closed to Palestinians.
According to local sources and in scenes widely documented on social media, both Israeli police and settlers attacked Palestinians, as well as Palestinian shops and private property, and members of the press reporting on the flag march and ensuing confrontations.
In the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, settlers attacked Palestinians as well as cars and houses using stones and live ammunition.
Israeli police subsequently implemented ID checks on Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah. They also stormed Al-Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem and prevented the funeral procession of a Palestinian Jerusalemite from taking place. Israeli police also closed down Al-Qibli Mosque, preventing Palestinians from entering and imposing further restrictions on residents of the area.
Eight Palestinians were injured when settlers attacked their houses in Bab Al-Magharbeh in the old city, damaging windows and parked cars. Anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab slogans were written on the walls of Bab Al-Amoud adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and a Palestinian flag was burned in the same area.
الأضرار التي لحقت بأحد المحال التجارية في منطقة باب المجلس بالقدس العتيقة جراء اعتداء قوات الاحتلال على الأهالي والممتلكات pic.twitter.com/siNtJPpAq1
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) May 29, 2022
Israeli forces also assaulted emergency medical workers with the Palestinian Red Crescent.
قوات الاحتلال تعتدي على الطواقم الطبية في شارع صلاح الدين بالقدس المحتلة pic.twitter.com/FxBUnDj7Z3
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) May 29, 2022
Confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli forces broke at various locations through the West Bank following the flag march, including Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jericho, Tulkarem and Azoun.
The Red Crescent reported a total of 420 injuries – 79 in Jerusalem and 341 in the West Bank – including injuries caused by live ammunition and rubber coated bullets.
