'Israel' turns Al-Quds into military barracks amid 'Flag March'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
18 May 2023 16:24
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IOF deploy all over the Old City of occupied Al-Quds to protect the Israeli settlers' provocative Israeli "Flag March".

Palestinians in occupied Al-Quds are preparing to confront the so-called Israeli "Flag March" scheduled to take place Thursday evening in the vicinity of the Old City amid heightened IOF alert to protect the occupation settler's rampage.

Hamas called on Palestinians in Al-Quds to confront the march, and for residents of the occupied West Bank and other regions within the 1948 occupied territories to confront Israeli occupation forces.

It also confirmed that the Resistance is ready to preserve Al-Aqsa Mosque and prevent the Judaization of occupied Al-Quds.

The provocative march is planned to pass through the Damascus Gate and the Old City.

Al Mayadeen correspondent in Al-Quds reported earlier today that more than 900 illegal Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday morning under IOF protection.

غناء ورقصات استفزازية للمستوطنين المجتمعين في القدس قُبيل ما تسمى "مسيرة الأعلام" ..#ارفع_علمك #القدس_عاصمة_فلسطين_الأبدية pic.twitter.com/JtRBF1GHb3
— ‏جَفرَا الحُب والثَورَة 🇵🇸 𓂆 (@jafra_ps) May 18, 2023

The Israeli security establishment is preparing for several scenarios, including the outbreak of confrontations in the West Asia region, security operations, and even the possibility of rocket fire from Southern Lebanon or the Gaza Strip toward occupied Al-Quds.

Further fueling Israeli concerns is the possibility of another Operation Seif Al-Quds, which the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza launched in 2021 in response to the occupation's aggression against Al-Aqsa and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

The streets of the Old City of Al-Quds that lead to Al-Aqsa Mosque witnessed a state of alert by the occupation forces in the morning, including the deployment of over 3,200 police officers to protect the planned Israeli rampage.

The occupation entity turned the city into a military barracks, mobilized its forces in the Old City, and erected military checkpoints on the main roads, while major streets will be closed and more security forces will be deployed.

Israeli media reported that the march will be led by seven occupation ministers and Knesset members from the government coalition, headed by Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

This comes as the so-called "Temple" group, in addition to other settler groups, called for the largest storming of Al-Aqsa on Thursday morning. The settlers hope to break the record for the number of Israelis storming Al-Aqsa Mosque in one day, noting that the record so far is 2,600 in 2022.

This year's march is taking place just days after the Israeli occupation launched an aggression against the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the martyrdom of 33 Palestinians, almost a third of whom were children and women.

What is the Israeli 'Flag March'?

The flag march, which is held on the so-called "Jerusalem Day", was first announced back in 1968 after "Israel" occupied Al-Quds in the aftermath of the June 1967 war.

The planned path of the march passes through the streets of the Old City and reaches the courtyard of the Al-Buraq Wall - called by the entity "Western Wall" - which the occupation has turned into a space for Israeli settlers.

اليوم سيتم اهانة مليار ونصف مسلم
اليوم ستعلو أصواتهم كفرًا وشتمًا
اليوم سيرفعوا علم كيانهم الغاصب فوق روؤسنا
اليوم سيقول هذه عاصمتنا الأبدية فماذا أنتم فاعلون

اللهم احفظ القدس وأهلها
واحفظ المسجد الأقصى من شرورهم وأفعالهم

من مسيرة الأعلام العام الماضي وهم يقولون الموت للعرب pic.twitter.com/WSje78eCGl
— محمد سعيد نشّوان - غزة (@MohmdNash) May 18, 2023

The march is a provocative act against Palestinians and is considered to be an aggression on Al-Aqsa mosque, one of the Muslims' holiest sites.

The event was halted during the period between 2010 and 2016 following heavy confrontations between Palestinians and the occupation forces and settlers.

The Israeli police usually force Palestinian business owners in the Old City of Al-Quds to close their shops to secure the Israeli settlers' provocations.

"Israel" will hold its usual Flag March on Thursday, ignoring #Palestinian calls and warnings regarding the provocative event. #Palestine pic.twitter.com/8ceAr7fQns
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 17, 2023

In parallel, the Knesset approved on Wednesday, in its preliminary reading, a bill aimed at preventing the raising of the Palestinian flag in gatherings and protests, according to state-run Palestinian news agency WAFA.

According to the agency, "The legislation allows the police to suppress protests, carry out arrests, and impose prison sentences on demonstrators if they raise the Palestinian flag."

In response to the Israeli "Flag March" in occupied Al-Quds, Palestinians raised the Palestinian flag on the balconies of homes and roads in various areas.

In the city of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians organized a vigil to condemn the provocative march, during which they raised Palestinian flags.

Likewise, Palestinian calls are spreading under the title "Raise your flag" to raise the Palestinian flag in all areas in response to the flags march.

On Thursday afternoon, a Palestinian flags march is scheduled to start toward the eastern border of Gaza City, coinciding with the occupation's flag march.