The march had initially been authorised regardless of considerations over potential violence in the course of the conflict on Gaza.
Jerusalem — About 200 Israeli settlers gathered within the centre of West Jerusalem on Thursday night time, making provocative speeches as a part of a march earlier than Israeli police forcefully dispersed them.
The march was anticipated to move in the direction of the partitions of the Outdated Metropolis of Jerusalem and enter by way of Damascus Gate. However police mentioned the marchers violated situations that had been set for them by authorities, forcing them to crack down and cancel the permission that had been given for the march.
Similar marches by far-right teams by way of the Outdated Metropolis of Jerusalem have up to now continuously led to violence towards Palestinians and heightened tensions. The Outdated Metropolis is a part of East Jerusalem, which has been underneath unlawful Israeli occupation since 1967.
Thursday’s march sparked even better considerations about potential violence than standard as a result of it was deliberate throughout Israel’s conflict on Gaza. Israel’s bombing and artillery fireplace has killed greater than 17,000 individuals in Gaza since October 7 when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 individuals and capturing 240 others.
“At first, racist chants have been heard on the spot from among the contributors, and at one level, dozens of protesters disobeyed the directions of the cops on the spot and superior with out the permission of the police in a wild run for a brief distance,” an Israeli police spokesperson mentioned. “The police stopped them after a number of tens of metres, and accordingly, an unlawful meeting was declared by a police officer.”
“The Israel Police will proceed to permit freedom of expression and protest inside the limits of the legislation however won’t permit the violation of public order opposite to the legislation.”
Chatting with Al Jazeera, one of many settlers attending the march described the group’s intent as “to eliminate the Muslim Waqf of the Temple Mount as a result of the Temple Mount belongs solely to the Jewish individuals”, referring to the Jordanian-appointed organisation that manages Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Al-Aqsa, one among Islam’s holiest websites, is also referred to as the Temple Mount and is a holy website for Jews. The positioning has been on the coronary heart of tensions in Jerusalem for many years.
Lately, settler assaults on Al-Aqsa Mosque have become more frequent, typically backed by influential politicians similar to Minister of Nationwide Safety Itamar Ben-Gvir.
After Thursday’s march was cancelled, the Outdated Metropolis remained closed over fears that the settlers may enter and perform assaults towards residents.
Israel has confronted rising criticism from its allies — specifically the USA — over violence and provocations by settlers within the occupied West Financial institution and East Jerusalem.