Nearly 1,500 Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, escorted and protected by Israeli security forces. This development comes just ahead of Jerusalem Day, an annual event where right-wing Israelis commemorate Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War.
1,500 Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque :Ultra-Nationalist Israelis Enter Al-Aqsa Compound
Nearly 1,500 ultra-nationalist Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem under the protection of Israeli security forces. This event comes just before Jerusalem Day, an annual celebration by right-wing Israelis marking the 1967 capture of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War.
The Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, also stormed Al Aqsa.
A March Through a Divided City
Jerusalem Day typically involves tens of thousands of right-wing Israelis marching from the western part of Jerusalem into the Old City, which lies within occupied East Jerusalem. This march is viewed by many Palestinians as a deliberate provocation. Despite Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem, the international community still considers it occupied territory.
Jerusalem Day is marks the reunification of Jerusalem and holds religious and historical significance for the Jewish people. The celebration of Jerusalem Day is accompanied by controversy, particularly concerning the Flag March and tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
Global Disagreements Over Jerusalem’s Status
While Israel considers all of Jerusalem its “undivided capital,” most of the international community rejects its annexation of the eastern part of the city. The Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017–2018 and the subsequent US embassy move added to the geopolitical tensions. Palestinians, however, maintain that East Jerusalem must be the capital of any future Palestinian state.
Protests and Provocations Under Heavy Security
The Jerusalem Day march has often been marred by inflammatory chants and slogans targeting Arabs and Muslims. Around 3,000 Israeli officers are usually deployed to protect the marchers. These demonstrations are seen by Palestinians as a tactic to assert Israeli dominance over the city and are deeply provocative, especially to those living in occupied East Jerusalem.
Palestinians Face Legal and Economic Pressures
Palestinians in East Jerusalem mostly hold permanent residency rather than citizenship. This precarious status can be revoked by Israeli authorities if individuals are deemed to have spent too much time outside the city. Residents also face high taxes and restrictions on business activities. On Jerusalem Day, many Palestinian shop owners are forced to close due to fears of violence or harassment, further deepening their economic struggles.
Professor Eugene Kontorovich says “Israeli settlements in the West Bank CAN be legal in the eyes of the international community – read to see how! Today is Jerusalem Day in Israel, celebrating the recapture in the Six Day War of the Old City of Jerusalem, as well as Judea and Samaria, after 19 years of Jordanian occupation, during which it ethnically cleansed all the Jews from the area. Yet the international community promptly claimed that even after the area came under Israeli control, Jews cannot be allowed to live anywhere in the area; indeed, Israel must restrain them. They claimed an obscure provision of the Fourth Geneva Convention – never applied to any situation before or after – requires this.”
As Jerusalem Day unfolds, the city remains tense. For right-wing Israelis, it is a day of celebration and national pride. For Palestinians, it marks a painful reminder of occupation and displacement. With little international intervention and a heavily imbalanced power dynamic on the ground, the annual event continues to fuel division in one of the world’s most contested cities.