Israeli ‘Flag March’ Sparks Tensions Amid Gaza Genocide

Tensions are high in occupied al-Quds as Palestinians prepare to confront the controversial Israeli “Flag March” scheduled for Wednesday. The annual event, which celebrates the “reunification” of al-Quds after the 1967 war, is set to proceed through the Damascus Gate and Old City, despite escalating tensions due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Israeli police have announced over 3,000 officers will be deployed in and around the Old City to protect the march, which has drawn criticism for provoking Palestinians and Muslims worldwide. Roads will be closed, public transportation rerouted, and access to Palestinian worshipers restricted as Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has urged supporters to join him in the march.

Ben-Gvir’s plan to grant Israeli control over the Al-Aqsa Mosque has further fueled tensions, as Israeli settlers have increasingly challenged the longstanding compromise at the Temple Mount. The march, known for incendiary behavior by Israeli settlers, is expected to intensify an already charged atmosphere in Palestinian neighborhoods.

With the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza casting a shadow over the event, the “Flag March” adds fuel to the fire in the ongoing war on Gaza.