'Flag March': Adding fuel to the fire amid Israeli genocide in Gaza
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IOF deploy all over the Old City of occupied al-Quds to protect the Israeli settlers' provocative "Flag March". Thousands of police officers have been stationed to manage a parade that has historically been a source of conflict between the marchers and Palestinians.
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An Israeli occupation police officer deployed as settlers waved flags ahead of a “Flag March” in front of the Damascus Gate of al-Quds, May 18, 2023. (AP)
Palestinians in occupied al-Quds are preparing to confront the so-called Israeli "Flag March" scheduled to take place Wednesday amid heightened IOF alert to protect the occupation settlers' rampage.
This year's "Flag March Day", a contentious and frequently provocative annual event, will proceed along its "usual path" through the Damascus Gate and the Old City, despite escalating tensions due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The "Flag March", which in recent years has increasingly drawn Zionist groups, has long been a contentious event. Marchers claim it celebrates the "reunification" of al-Quds after the June 1967 war, while critics stress it intentionally provokes Palestinians and Muslims all around the world.
'Israel' turned al-Quds into a military fortress
Israeli Police announced that over 3,000 officers, including border police, volunteers, and reinforcements from other settlements, will be stationed in and around the Old City on Wednesday afternoon for the Flag March.
Numerous roads in al-Quds will be closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday afternoon and gradually reopen as the parade progresses. The light rail will be out of service during the parade, and bus routes will be diverted to avoid interfering with the march, as per Israeli media reports.
"Israel" has limited access to Palestinian men over 55 and women over 50 since October, imposing severe restrictions on Palestinian worshipers, inspecting their IDs at the gates of al-Quds, and preventing many of them from entering the mosque.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli far-right police minister, announced last week that he would participate in the march and urged supporters to join him.
It is worth noting that Ben-Gvir has included changes to the status quo at al-Aqsa Mosque in his ministry's formal action plans. His plan aims to alter the status quo at the Mosque by granting Israeli control over the site and allowing access to Zionists.
The march is considered the most recent in a series of provocative statements and actions by Israeli officials regarding the holy Islamic site.
The big picture
After "Israel's" occupation of East al-Quds began in 1967, the entity made an arrangement that allowed Jews to pray at the courtyard of the Al-Buraq Wall. Non-Muslims could visit Al-Aqsa during certain hours but were prohibited from performing rituals there.
This remains the official policy of the Israeli occupation government. However, in recent years, Israeli far-right factions have increasingly challenged this status quo. Notably, in 2022, Ben-Gvir often advocated making the Temple Mount exclusively Jewish.
According to a longstanding compromise, Jews are permitted to visit but not pray at the Temple Mount. However, in recent years, the increasing number of Israeli settlers, some performing provocative rituals or accompanied by Israeli occupation forces, has heightened longstanding Palestinian concerns that "Israel" intends to occupy the holy site.
During the Flag March, Israeli settlers are known to shout anti-Arab slogans and engage in incendiary behavior. The march is set to proceed through the Palestinian neighborhoods, intensifying an already charged atmosphere. This year, tensions are even higher due to the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, casting a shadow over yet another Israeli provocative action.
