Palestinians attacked as Israeli settlers stage ‘flag march’ through East Jerusalem

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Palestinians in East Jerusalem were harassed, insulted and beaten by Israeli settlers and police during the provocative ‘flag march’ on Thursday. (WAFA)
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Palestinians in East Jerusalem were harassed, insulted and beaten by Israeli settlers and police during the provocative ‘flag march’ on Thursday. (WAFA)
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Palestinians in East Jerusalem were harassed, insulted and beaten by Israeli settlers and police during the provocative ‘flag march’ on Thursday. (WAFA)
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Palestinians in East Jerusalem were harassed, insulted and beaten by Israeli settlers and police during the provocative ‘flag march’ on Thursday. (WAFA)
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Palestinians in East Jerusalem were harassed, insulted and beaten by Israeli settlers and police during the provocative ‘flag march’ on Thursday. (WAFA)
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Palestinians in East Jerusalem were harassed, insulted and beaten by Israeli settlers and police during the provocative ‘flag march’ on Thursday. (WAFA)
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Palestinians in East Jerusalem were harassed, insulted and beaten by Israeli settlers and police during the provocative ‘flag march’ on Thursday. (WAFA)
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Updated 19 May 2023
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Palestinians attacked as Israeli settlers stage ‘flag march’ through East Jerusalem

  • More than 1,200 storm Al-Aqsa, raise Israeli flags
  • Politicians among marchers on 56th anniversary of city’s occupation

RAMALLAH: Thousands of Israeli settlers stormed Jerusalem on Thursday, on the anniversary of the occupation of the eastern part of the city according to the Hebrew calendar.

The “Jerusalem Day” marches began at 2:30 p.m. and reached the Damascus Gate area. The marchers raised Israeli flags, danced, beat drums and sang songs.

Several senior Israeli politicians, including Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Transportation Miri Regev and the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee in the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, took part in the so-called flag march.

Protected by Israeli police, the marchers assaulted and hurled insults at Palestinian citizens in the Old City and threw stones and waved sticks at press crews near Damascus Gate. They also called for imposing effective Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

More than 1,200 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa and raised Israeli flags, while police prevented people under the age of 50 from entering the mosque from the predawn prayer until after 3 p.m.

Palestinians said the march was designed to provoke them and wrest control of the eastern part of the city, something the Israelis have been unable to do for the past 56 years.

Israeli authorities regard the more than 350,000 Palestinians who live in the east of the city as residents rather than citizens. About 20,000 Palestinians live in the Old City, alongside 1,100 Israeli settlers.

About 3,200 police imposed a tight siege on Jerusalem, especially in the Damascus Gate area, forcibly removing Palestinian men and women from the street and detaining some. They also restricted movement in the streets around Sultan Suleiman, Nablus and Al-Musrara.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh condemned the march, describing it as “absurd” and “provocative.”

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, said the Palestinian people had legitimacy in Jerusalem, not Israelis or Americans, adding that the flag march was Israeli provocation “that is condemned and rejected.”

He said the US administration “does not give legitimacy to anyone,” and its silence over the Israeli attacks encouraged the occupation forces to persist in their violence against Palestinian people.

Hamas spokesperson Abd Al-Latif Al-Qanua said the extremist Israeli government’s granting permission for settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and the flag march constituted provocation of Palestinians.

But the march and repeated incursions “cannot change the reality,” he added.

Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza said the march was a failed attempt by Israel to impose its control and sovereignty over Jerusalem.

The march coincided with the 56th anniversary of the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.

Imad Muna, one of the most prominent leaders of the Palestinian East Jerusalem community, told Arab News that East Jerusalem and the Old City were almost empty of merchants and shoppers on Thursday.

Even foreigners did not go to the area for fear of violence and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police who were deployed in great numbers, he said.

About 1,500 shops inside the Old City were forced to close their doors on Thursday to avoid being attacked by the settlers.

“The intensive Israeli security measures and the fear of attacks by extremist settlers paralyzed commerce,” Muna said.

He warned that if the Palestinians tolerated the march this year, then next year, instead of entering the Old City through two gates, the settlers would enter through seven gates.

After 56 years of occupying East Jerusalem, Israel had “failed miserably” in its efforts to Judaize it and tame the Palestinians, Muna said.

“What is the goal of this march, and what do they want to achieve through it? They are trying to prove something they are not convinced of.”


Palestinian health ministry says 4 killed in Israeli West Bank strike

Updated 19 December 2024
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Palestinian health ministry says 4 killed in Israeli West Bank strike

RAMALLAH: The Palestinian health ministry said Thursday that an Israeli air strike on a car killed four Palestinians and wounded three near the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarem.
The ministry announced that the Palestinians were killed “as a result of the (Israeli) bombing of a vehicle in Tulkarem camp,” which the Israeli army did not immediately confirm to AFP.


Turkiye, Iran leaders at Muslim summit in Cairo

Updated 19 December 2024
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Turkiye, Iran leaders at Muslim summit in Cairo

  • Relations between Egypt and Iran have been strained for decades, but diplomatic contacts have intensified since Cairo became a mediator in the war in Gaza

CAIRO: The leaders of Turkiye and Iran were in Egypt on Thursday for a summit of eight Muslim-majority countries, meeting for the first time since the ouster of Syria’s president Bashar Assad.
Turkiye historically backed the opposition to Assad, while Iran supported his rule.
The gathering of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as the Developing-8, was being held against a backdrop of regional turmoil including the conflict in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and unrest in Syria.
In a speech to the summit, Turkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for unity and reconciliation in Syria, urging “the restoration of Syria’s territorial integrity and unity.”
He also voiced hope for “the establishment of a Syria free of terrorism,” where “all religious sects and ethnic groups live side by side in peace.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged action to address the crises in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, saying that it is a “religious, legal and human duty to prevent further harm” to those suffering in these conflict zones.
Pezeshkian, who arrived in Cairo on Wednesday, is the first Iranian president to visit Egypt since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who visited in 2013.
Relations between Egypt and Iran have been strained for decades, but diplomatic contacts have intensified since Cairo became a mediator in the war in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi visited Egypt in October, while his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty traveled to Tehran in July to attend Pezeshkian’s inauguration.
Ahead of the summit, the Iranian top diplomat said he hoped it would “send a strong message to the world that the Israeli aggressions and violations in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria” would end “immediately.”
Erdogan was in Egypt earlier this year, and discussed with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi economic cooperation as well as regional conflicts.
Established in 1997, the D-8 aims to foster cooperation among member states, spanning regions from Southeast Asia to Africa.
The organization includes Egypt, Turkiye, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia as member states.


Iraq begins repatriating Syrian soldiers amid border security assurances

Updated 19 December 2024
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Iraq begins repatriating Syrian soldiers amid border security assurances

DUBAI: Iraq has begun the process of returning Syrian soldiers to their home country, according to state media reports on Wednesday.

Lt. Gen. Qais Al-Muhammadawi, deputy commander of joint operations, emphasized the robust security measures in place along Iraq’s borders with Syria.

“Our borders are fortified and completely secure,” he said, declaring that no unauthorized crossings would be permitted.

Muhammadawi said that all border crossings with Syria are under tight control, stating: “We will not allow a terrorist to enter our territory.”


Turkiye won’t halt Syria military activity until Kurd fighters ‘disarm’

Updated 19 December 2024
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Turkiye won’t halt Syria military activity until Kurd fighters ‘disarm’

ISTANBUL: Turkiye will push ahead with its military preparations until Kurdish fighters “disarm,” a defense ministry source said Thursday as the nation faces an ongoing threat along its border with northern Syria.
“Until the PKK/YPG terrorist organization disarms and its foreign fighters leave Syria, our preparations and measures will continue within the scope of the fight against terrorism,” the source said.


Hamas says Israeli strikes in Yemen ‘dangerous development’

Updated 19 December 2024
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Hamas says Israeli strikes in Yemen ‘dangerous development’

GAZA: Palestinian militant group Hamas said Thursday that Israel’s strikes in Yemen after the Houthi rebels fired a missile at the country were a “dangerous development.”
“We regard this escalation as a dangerous development and an extension of the aggression against our Palestinian people, Syria and the Arab region,” Hamas said in a statement as Israel struck ports and energy infrastructure in Yemen after intercepting a missile attack by the Houthis.