Tens of Thousands of Israeli Ultranationalists Join Jerusalem Day March Amid Tensions

Thousands of Israeli ultranationalists marched through occupied East Jerusalem during the annual Jerusalem Day celebrations, marking Israel's capture of the area in the 1967 Six-Day War. Participants chanted anti-Arab slogans such as "Death to Arabs" and "Gaza is a graveyard," while confronting Palestinian residents in the Old City. The event featured heavy police deployment as many Palestinians closed businesses and stayed indoors due to fears of violence. Far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich attended, with Ben-Gvir visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a move considered provocative given the site's sensitive status. Conversely, peace activists from Jewish-Arab organizations like Standing Together formed volunteer groups to protect Palestinians and de-escalate tensions. The march highlights Jerusalem's role as a central flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Israel viewing the city as its undivided capital while Palestinians seek East Jerusalem for their future state. International community largely does not recognize Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem. The event has increasingly become a display of strength for Israel's religious nationalist movement, drawing supporters from across Israel and the West Bank.