At least 18 suspects were arrested on suspicion of “violent crimes, assault and threats and disorderly conduct at the annual march to mark Jerusalem Day,” according to Israeli Police.
The march of flags continues into the Old City and the Western Wall as thousands of Jerusalem District police officers, police reinforcements, MGB fighters and volunteers work in the various missions and sectors. The Israeli Police said it is working throughout Jerusalem to secure the tens of thousands of participants, maintain order and direct traffic on Jerusalem Day.
The march left a trail of violence as it kicked off in the early afternoon of Wednesday. Predominantly right-wing Israeli ultra-nationalists attended, many very young, marching through Muslim areas of Jerusalem’s Old City and attacking local business owners and journalists.
Among those arrested were suspects of different ages involved in “various incidents of violence in the Old City, possession of a knife and threats towards police officers,” police said.
Some of the roads that were blocked were opened to traffic and the police continue to work to maintain security and order.
Al-Asima journalist Saif Al Qawasmi said he was attacked on duty and beaten on his head and hand, video shows.
Hareetz journalist Nir Hasson also said he was attacked by a group of Israeli nationalist youths and posted videos showing the violent scenes.
These protesters were consistently chanting racist slurs throughout their march and attacking people as filmed by witnesses and reported by an ABC News team on the ground.
The massive group of far-right Israelis marched into Jerusalem’s old city chanting, “Death to Arabs!” “May your village burn!” and “The nation is alive!”
Tensions were already high for this event, which draws thousands of people and all Palestinian shops were closed by the Israeli police.
-ABC News’ Marcus Moore, Nasser Atta, Jordana Miller and Camila Alcini
On July 30, 2014, a tragic incident occurred in Gaza when an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strike hit a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians. The strike took place during the height of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which had been ongoing for several weeks.
According to updates from the Israeli military, the strike on the UNRWA school was a response to rocket fire from militants in the vicinity of the school. The IDF claimed that they had warned civilians to evacuate the area prior to the strike, but many residents had sought refuge in the school, believing it to be a safe haven.
The UNRWA, which provides humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, condemned the attack and called for an immediate investigation into the incident. The agency stated that at least 15 people were killed and dozens more were injured in the strike, with many of the victims being women and children.
The international community also expressed outrage over the attack, with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling it a “moral outrage and a criminal act.” The United States and other countries called for an immediate ceasefire and urged both sides to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law.
The IDF maintained that they were targeting militants who were using civilians as human shields, but the strike on the UNRWA school raised questions about the military’s adherence to international law and their duty to protect civilian lives during conflict.
The incident at the UNRWA school highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict in Gaza on innocent civilians, many of whom have been caught in the crossfire between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants. The loss of life in this tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and an end to the cycle of violence that has plagued the region for decades.
