Palestinians Brace for Far-Right Israeli March in East Al-Quds
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Israeli regime’s authorities have beefed up security in Jerusalem al-Quds, particularly in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, ahead of the annual “flag day” march by Orthodox Jews and settlers amid an already tense situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
More than 2,000 police were deployed as flag-bearing marchers slowly began to gather early on Thursday near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to participate in the parade, which celebrates the occupation in 1967 of East Jerusalem Al-Quds and its subsequent occupation.
Israel’s annexation of occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds and its Old City has never been recognized by the international community.
Tens of thousands of Israelis are expected to participate in the march that has witnessed violence in the past few years as marchers have used provocations against Palestinians, including slogans such as “Death to Arabs”.
Meanwhile, the Zionist regime’s authorities prevented Palestinian worshippers under the age of 50 from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform dawn prayers.
A line had begun forming early on Thursday to the entrance to the compound – which Jews refer to as the “Temple Mount”, believing that it is where the first and second ancient Jewish temples once stood, Al Jazeera reported.
The annual parade has increasingly become a show of force for Jewish nationalists, and for Palestinians, a blatant provocation meant to undermine their ties to the city.
