Videos from Israel’s provocative Flag March in al-Quds Sunday show young Palestinians chasing extremist settlers at Bab al-Amoud, also known as Damascus Gate, in the occupied Old City.
The Israeli raid by thousands of extremist settlers protected by troops featured scenes of all-out confrontation between the invaders and Palestinian youths, which prompted Gaza’s Hamas leaders to praise “the great heroism” shown by Palestinians at al-Aqsa Mosque.
One footage shows throngs of Israeli settlers running away as a small group of Palestinian youths chases them at Bab al-Amoud.
Local sources said Israeli forces intervened, arresting some young Palestinians at the site, imposing strict regulations and conducting body search on everyone passing through the gate.
On Sunday, thousands of Israeli extremists, chanting “Death to Arabs,” paraded through the heart of the main Palestinian thoroughfare in al-Quds’ Old City, in a show of provocation that risked setting off a new wave of confrontations in the tense city.
The crowds were celebrating al-Quds Day — an Israeli holiday that marks the occupation of the Old City in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians see the event, which passes through the heart of the Muslim Quarter, as a provocation. Last year, the parade helped trigger an 11-day war with Gaza resistance fighters, and this year’s march drew condemnations from the Palestinians and neighboring Jordan.
Israel said it deployed thousands of police and military forces for the event, and sporadic scuffles between Israeli and Palestinian groups erupted inside the Old City.
At least 24 Palestinians were wounded in the Old City and the surrounding area, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said. Injuries included wounds from rubber-coated steel bullets, beatings and pepper spray.
Footage posted online showed settlers assaulting and pepper-spraying a Palestinian woman in her 50s.
Aida Saidawi, an Old City resident and activist, was taken away for treatment after the attack, which led to scuffles between Palestinians and Israeli extremists.
Other videos showed settlers obstructing journalists in the Old City and clashing with Palestinians.
The PRCS also reported that its medics were assaulted by police in the vicinity of Damascus Gate while they attempted to reach the wounded.
As the march got underway, groups of extremist groups gathered outside Damascus Gate, waving flags, singing songs, and shouting “Death to Arabs,” and “Let your village burn down” before descending the Muslim Quarter into the Old City.
The Flag March is a far-right parade associated with violence against Palestinians and the “display of incitement, Jewish dominance, and racism,” according to Israeli NGO Ir Amim.
Waving the Israeli flag while dancing and singing, marchers have in the past attacked Palestinian shops in the Old City and chanted anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian slogans.
Among the raiders this year was Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of an extremist opposition party and a follower of the late racist rabbi, Meir Kahane, who entered with dozens of supporters under heavy police guard.
Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Israel is “playing with fire irresponsibly and recklessly”.
Press TV
